"^-■^ 


; THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY, | 

I  Princeton,  N.  J. 


BR  1725  .S32  W50  1845 
Williams,  John  Bickerton, 

1792-1855. 
Memoirs  of  the  life  and 


/f 


MEMOIRS 

OP 

THE  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER 

OF 

MRS.   SARAH  "sAVAGE, 

ELDEST  DAUGHTER  Ot   THE  REV.  PHILIP  HENRY  A.  M. 

BY  SIR  J.  B.  WILLIAMS  L.L.D.  F.S.A. 

WITH  A  RECOMMENDATORY  PREFACE, 

BY 

THE   REV.  WILLIAM   JAY,  OF    BATH. 


TO    WHICH    ARE    ADDED, 

MEMOIRS  OF  THE  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER 

OF 

BIRS.  ANNE  HULTON  &  MRS.  ELEANOR  RADFORD, 

Daughtera  of  the  Rev.  Philip  Henr)-,  A.  M. 
BY  THEIR  BROTHER,  MATTHEW  HENRY,  V.D.M. 


PHILADELPHIA : 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

1845. 


Sterentvpod  by 

S.  DOUGLAS  WYETH, 

No.  7  Pear  St.  Philadelphia. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


In  the  following  Memoir*  nothing  has  been  intro- 
duced but  what  is  authentic. — Mrs.  Savage  left 
in  her  own  hand-writing,  a  Diary  of  many  vol- 
umes, commencing  with  the  year  1686,  and  con- 
tinued, with  few  intervals,  to  her  death.  Thence, 
chiefly,  the  narrative  has  been  compiled.  All  the 
extracts,  unless  otherwise  mentioned,  are  given 
from  those  volumes. 

The  great  number  of  her  papers,  generally  of 
superior  excellence,  rendered  selection  diflacult. 
It  has  been  my  aim,  however,  to  avoid  tedious- 
ness,  and  to  introduce  only  fair  examples  illustra- 
tive of  each  particular  into  which  her  character 
has  been  divided.  In  doing  this,  as  well  as  in  the 
general  plan,  I  have  followed  Mr.  Orton,  in  his 
useful  life  of  Dr.  Doddridge. 

*  The  only  account  of  Mrs.  Savage,  and  that  a  very  brief 
one,  which,  it  is  beheved,  has  ever  been  written,  may  be  seen 
in  the  Christian  Obser\er,  vol.  iv.  p.  3i7— and  Burder's  Memoirs 
of  Pious  Women,  vol.  iii.  p.  83. 

ill 


IV  ADVERTISEMENT. 

Of  the  Appendix  little  need  be  said.  It  is 
rather  bulimy,  but,  I  hope,  neither  prolix  nor  irre- 
levant. The  articles  arc  from  manuscripts  never 
before  published ;  and  a  reference,  as  to  authen- 
ticity, is  made,  in  each,  for  the  reader's  satisfac- 
tion. 

To  the  descendants  of  Mrs.  Savage,  and  also 
to  Mrs.  Ireland,  of  Wem,  I  embrace  this  opportu- 
nity of  renewing  my  acknowledgments  ;  as  well 
for  their  repeated  kindness  in  furnishing  informa- 
tion concerning  their  revered  ancestor,  as  for  the 
liberal  use  of  many  manuscripts  which  enrich  this 
compilation. 

Nor  can  I  omit  to  mention  Mrs.  Savage's  grand- 
daughter,  the  late  Mrs.  Brett,  of  West-Bromwich, 
in  Staffordshire — my  venerable  and  lamented 
friend — as  having  contributed  essentially  to  the 
present  volume. 

The  undertaking  was  commenced  not  only 
under  the  auspices  of  Mrs.  Brett,  but  of  various 
esteemed  friends,  both  among  the  clergy  and  laity  ; 
and  has  been  prosecuted,  at  intervals,  in  those 
moments  which  a  laborious  profession  furnishes 
for  relaxation.  My  object  has  not  been  to  gratify 
a  blind  partiality,  to  extol  human  nature,  or  to 
satisfy  captious  criticism  ;  but,  by  illustrating  the 
blessedness  of  religion,  to  encourage  early  piety, 
to  edify   aged  christians ;  and,  in  short,  to  ani- 


ADVERTISEMENT.  V 

mate  and  confirm  all  who  love  the  "  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus."  Female  virtue  is  repeatedly  exhibited 
by  inspired  wisdom,  for  the  imitation  and  guidance 
of  succeeding  generations. 

Now,  see  the  Saint  immortal ;  her  I  mean 

Who  hvcd  a3  such ;  whose  heart,  full  bent  on  heaven, 

Leaned  all  that  way,  her  bias  to  the  stars. 

Observe  the  awful  portrait,  and  admire ; 

Nor  stop  at  wonder :  imitate,  and  live. 


J.  B.  WILLIAMS. 


Swan  Hill,  Shrewsbury, 
February  I2th,  1818. 


CONTENTS. 

Pfx-eface  by  the  Rev.  William  Jay     -  ix 

Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Savage         -  27 

Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Anne  Hulton          -  241 

Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Eleanor  Radford  -  315 
Appendix  i.  Death  of  the    mother   of 

Mrs.  Savage         -         -         -         -  331 

Appendix  ii.   A  Sermon,  by  the  Rev. 

Matthew  Henry  ...     333 

Appendix  hi.  Death  of  the  Rev.  Mat- 
thew Henry        -         -         .         .     355 


vu 


PREFACE. 

In  November  last,  going  to  Shrewsbury  to 
preach  for  the  Swan  Hill  Sunday  School,  I 
called  upon  my  amiable  and  worthy  friend, 
the  Editor  of  the  following  sheets.  He 
shewed  me  a  number  of  manuscript  vol- 
umes, filled  with  the  diary  and  remarks  of 
Mrs.  Savage ;  and  intimated  some  design  of 
publishing  a  selection  from  them.  I  was  so 
impressed  and  delighted  after  hearing  vari- 
ous extracts  indiscriminately  taken,  that  I 
applauded  the  wish,  and  endeavoured  to 
accelerate  the  accomplishment  of  it.  Hav- 
ing, therefore,  rendered  myself  in  some  mea- 
sure responsible  for  the  publication  by  my 
opinion  and  advice,  I  the  more  readily  com- 
ply with  his  desire  in  writing  a  few  words 
by  way  of  introduction. 

The  relationship  of  this  good  woman  will 
deservedly  bespeak  some  peculiar  attention 


X  PREFACE. 

to  the  following  pages:  for  who,  without 
sentiments  of  love  and  veneration,  can  think 
of  Philip  Henry,  her  father,  and  of  Mat- 
thew Henry,  her  brother? 

The  daughter  and  sister  was  worthy  of  her 
excellent  kindred.  She  possessed  much  of 
tlieir  piety,  and  no  inconsiderable  share  of 
their  talent.  She  had  their  familiar  acquain- 
tance with  the  Scripture;  their  prompt  re- 
membrance of  its  significant  phrases ;  and 
their  easy  and  pertinent  accommodation  of 
them  to  events.  She  had  the  same  devout- 
ness  of  remark;  the  same  sprightliness  of 
observation ;  the  same  degree  of  quaintness 
— just  sufficient  to  awaken  notice,  and  aid 
recollection,  but  not  enough  entirely  to  offend 
good  taste. 

She  was  "  a  gracious  woman,  and  she  re- 
tains honour."  By  the  providence  of  Ilim 
who  has  said,  "  Them  that  honour  me  I  will 
honour,"  after  serving  her  generation  accord- 
ing to  the  will  of  God,  and  falling  asleep, 
her  memory,  at  the  distance  of  more  than  a 
century,  is  blessed ;  and  her  works,  written 
in  the  closet,  praise  her  in  the  gate. 

The  species  of  writing,  in  which  she  so 
largely  indulged,  Avas  far  more  common  in 
her  days  than  it  is  in  ours.     It  has  been 


PREFACE.  XI 

abused,  and  rendered  ridiculous  by  its  mi- 
nuteness and  too  frequent  publication :  yet 
properly  conducted,  it  would  prove  eminent- 
ly conducive  to  usefulness.  It  would  pro- 
mote communion  with  Providence,  and  bring 
a  man  within  the  reach  of  the  promise, 
"Whoso  is  wise,  and  will  observe  these 
things,  even  they  shall  understand  the  loving- 
kindness  of  the  Lord."  It  would  secure  the 
habit  of  retirement,  and  the  practice  of  self- 
inspection.  It  would  enable  the  writer,  in 
review,  to  compare  himself  with  himself,  and 
awaken  humiliation  and  repentance,  when 
instead  of  growing  in  grace,  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  his  Lord  and  Saviour,  he  found 
that  he  was  standing  still,  or  had  left  his  first 
love. — And  though  we  have  not  the  formality 
of  the  thing  in  the  Scripture,  we  have  many 
indications  of  the  principle  :  as  in  the  names 
which  Joseph  and  Moses  imposed  upon  their 
children ;  in  the  stone  which  Samuel  reared 
and  called  Ebenezer ;  in  the  pot  of  INIanna, 
and  Aaron's  rod  that  budded,  laid  up  in  the 
ark ;  in  the  command,  "  Thou  shall  remember 
all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  led  thee 
these  forty  years  in  the  wilderness;"  in  the 
reproof,  "  Of  the  rock  that  begat  thee  thou 
art  unmindful,  and  hast  ■  forgotten  the  God 


XU  PREFACE. 

that  formed  thee  ;"  in  the  resokition,  "  Bless 
tlie  Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his 
benefits." 

Some  Diaries  were  written,  either  for  the 
express  purpose  of  meeting  the  public  eye, 
or  in  the  apprehended  probability  of  it. 
When  this  is  known  to  be  the  case,  we  can- 
not peruse  them  with  the  same  degree  of 
pleasure  and  freedom,  as  when  they  seem 
written  for  their  own  sake,  and  betray  no 
wish  to  produce  eflect.  Nothing  was  further 
from  the  mind  of  Mrs.  Savage,  than  the  pub- 
lic exhibition  of  what  she  wrote.  It  was  solely 
inscribed  for  her  own  use  and  edification. 
Her  views  in  it  she  has  thus  recorded.  "  It 
is  in  my  thoughts  to  do  something  in  the  na- 
ture of  a  Diary,  being  encouraged  by  the  ad- 
vantage others  have  gained  thereby,  and  the 
hope  that  I  might  be  furthered  by  it  in  a 
godly  life,  and  be  more  watchful  over  the 
frame  of  my  heart,  when  it  must  be  kept  on 
record.  I  would  approve  myself  to  God, 
who  alone  knows  the  sincerity  of  my  heart. 
To  liim  I  have  made  known  my  request 
herein,  and  I  heartily  beg  that  what  I  shall 
at  any  time  put  down  may  be  the  workings 
of  my  heart,  and  that  in  nothing  I  may  bear 
witness  against  myself."     In  this  temper  of 


PREFACE.  XIU 

mind  the  whole  seems  to  have  been  penned : 
and  nothing  can  be  more  pleasmg  or  edifying 
than  the  perusal  of  such  unstudied,  undis- 
guised representations  of  her  conscience  and 
her  character. 

The  inspection  shews  us,  that  a  dissent 
from  the  National  Church  may  be  founded  in 
conviction,  as  well  as  education ;  and  does 
not  necessarily  imply  a  fastidious,  or  a  fac- 
tious disposition;  that  it  does  not  render  its 
subject  bUnd  to  what  is  good  or  excellent  in 
the  doctrine  and  liturgy  of  the  establishment, 
or  prevent  prayer  for  its  success,  or  rejoicing 
in  its  welfare.  It  shews  us  too,  how  little  it 
encourages  disaffection  to  civil  obedience,  or 
forbids  "rendering  to  Cocsar  the  things  that 
are  Caesar's."  Could  the  diaries  of  Mrs. 
Savage's  times  be  explored,  what  a  contrast 
would  be  found  between  the  sentiments  such 
worthies  confessed  before  God  in  their  most 
sacred  moments,  and  those  charged  upon 
them  by  their  calumniating  adversaries. 
Take  the  following  extract  from  the  journal 
of  her  honoured  father,  when  deprived  of  his 
living  for  conscience  sake  : 

"1663,  May  29th.  A  thanksgiving  day 
for  the  king's  return ;  a  mercy  in  itself,  for 
2 


XIV  PREFACE. 

whicli  the  Lord  be  praised,  though  I,  and 
many  more,  suffer  by  it." 

We  perceive  in  these  pages,  that  evangeli- 
cal principles  do  not  lead  to  licentiousness, 
but  are  friendly  to  every  duty  we  owe  to 
God,  our  fellow-creatures,  and  ourselves. 
Where  do  we  here  see  any  traces  of  that 
bold  familiarity  with  the  Supreme  Being,  of 
that  contempt  of  others  which  cries.  Stand  by, 
I  am  holier  than  thou  ;  of  that  relaxation  of 
vigilance,  that  carelessness  of  conduct,  that 
presumptuousness  of  hope,  which  in  the 
minds  and  languages  of  many,  seem  for  ever 
identified  with  the  doctrines  of  grace  ? 

We  may  see  here  somewhat  of  the  nature 
and  value  of  christian  experience.  We  are 
accustomed  to  speak  of  doctrine,  experience, 
and  practice,  but  though  these  are  in  a  mea- 
sure different,  they  are  not  separable  ;  they  re- 
semble the  colours  in  the  rainbow  ;  you  can 
distinguish  them,  but  you  cannot  limit ;  they 
imperceptibly  melt  into  each  other.  Chris- 
tian experience  results  from  enlightened 
views  of  divine  things,  which  is  no  other 
than  doctrinal  belief;  and  it  issues  in  the 
conversation  and  life,  which  is  nothing  less 
than  practical  godliness.  Yea,  these  operate 
mutually,  as  cause  and  effect,  for  as  our  per- 


PREFACE.  XV 

ccptions  influence  our  feelings,  and  these  our 
conduct;  so  practice  increases  our  feelings, 
and  these  aid  our  judgment ;  for  the  exempli- 
fication of  our  religious  views  iu  our  disposi- 
tions and  actions,  renders  them  more  clear  and 
more  powerful.  Hence  the  meaning  of  the 
term  :  for  experience  signifies  knowledge  de- 
rived from  trial,  in  contradistinction  to  con- 
jecture and  theory.  A  christian  does  not  at 
first  adopt  religious  sentiments,  or  engage  in 
religious  exercises,  with  a  view  to  make  ex- 
periments ;  yet  a  reception  of  the  former,  and 
an  attention  to  the  latter  have  this  effect. 
They  put  these  things  into  a  state  of  trial : 
and  a  new  kind  of  evidence  is  obtained  by 
the  individual.  He  that  believeth  hath  the 
witness  in  himself;  and  though  it  may  not  be 
convincing  to  others,  it  is  very  satisfactory  to 
his  own  heart,  aiid  he  is  neither  to  be  ridi- 
culed, or  argued  out  of  it.  Hence  says  our 
Lord,  "  Ye  shall  know  the  truth,  and  the  truth 
shall  make  you  free."  Hence  men  are  invi- 
ted to  "  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good." 
Hence  christians  are  represented  as  having 
"tasted  that  the  Lord  is  gracious."  Hence 
David  says,  "  Because  thou  hast  been  my 
help,  therefore  under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings 
will  I  rejoice:"  and  Paul  exults,  "I  know 


XVI  PREFACE. 

whom  I  have  believed,  and  am  persuaded 
that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have 
committed  to  him  against  that  day." 

I  here  look  into  Mrs.  Savage's  heart,  and 
I  see  this  satisfaction,  yet  not  excluding 
many  anxious  and  painful  feelings  :  and  the 
Christian  is  portrayed  in  the  Scripture,  by 
his  fear,  as  well  as  by  his  confidence  :  by  his 
weeping,  as  well  as  rejoicing.  A  stone  re- 
mains the  same  all  the  year ;  but  what 
changes  does  the  living  tree  feel,  and  what 
different  aspects  does  it  exhibit  in  the  four 
seasons?  I  see  in  this  subject  of  divine 
grace  no  vain,  no  proud  pretensions ;  she 
no  where  says,  "  I  have  made  my  heart  clean, 
I  am  pure  from  my  sin  ;"  "  I  have  already 
attained,  I  am  already  perfect :"  but  in  every 
page  she  cries,  "  This  one  thing  I  do  ;  forget- 
ting the  things  that  are  behind,  and  reaching 
forth  unto  those  that  are  before,  I  press 
towards  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  my  high 
calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus."  Amidst  all 
her  complaints  of  the  want  of  more  conform- 
ity and  devotedness  to  God,  we  still  see  hor, 
differing  from  others,  a  new  creature,  God's 
workmanship  :  and  we  see  reason  why  Chris- 
tians, under  all  their  acknowledged  imperfec- 
tions, are  called  "righteous,"  and  "godly," 


PREFACE.  XVU 

and  "  holy,"  and  "  spiritual :"  for  we  see  the 
complete  state  to  which  she  aspired,  power- 
fully at  work  in  its  principles  ;  already  com- 
menced in  its  preparations  ;  already  ensured 
in  its  earnests ;  already  enjoyed  in  its  fore- 
tastes. We  see  "  the  path  of  the  just,  which 
is  as  the  shining  light,  that  shineth  more  and 
more  unto  the  perfect  day." 

The  experience  of  Mrs.  Savage  shows  us 
that  religion  is  not  always  begun  abruptly,  or 
in  a  manner  bordering  on  prodigy.  It  is  often 
derived,  under  the  divine  agency,  from  pious 
education,  family  worship,  parental  instruc- 
tion, holy  example.  Mr.  Baxter  goes  so  far 
as  to  say,  that  if  these  were  discharged  as  they 
ought  to  be,  even  the  preaching  of  the  word 
would  not  be  the  most  common  means  of 
conversion.  It  is  certain  that  many  of  the 
most  eminent  and  useful  ministers  among  the 
Puritans  and  Non-conformists  were  not  con- 
verted from  a  course  of  profligacy,  but  were 
trained  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of 
the  Lord ;  from  children  knew  the  holy 
Scriptures :  and  the  change  in  them  was  as 
gradual  in  its  progress,  as  it  was  proved  to 
be  real  and  divine  in  its  effects. 

JNIany,  I  fear,  are  tempted  to  think  suspi- 
ciously, or  lowermgly  of  the  acquisition  of  re- 


XVlll  PREFACE. 

ligion  in  this  humble  and  unostentatious 
mode  :  and  deem  it  far  preferable,  that  a  man 
should  have  been  led  from  the  depths  of 
Satan  into  the  way  everlasting ;  have  felt  a 
sudden  violence ;  and,  after  enduring  in- 
sufferable terror  and  anguish,  be  elevated 
into  confidence  and  rapture.  We  are  not  to 
limit  the  Holy  One  of  Israel ;  yet  ought  we 
to  be  careful,  not  to  draw  universal  conclu- 
sions from  particular  cases,  or  convert  ex- 
ceptions into  general  rules.  It  is  one  of  the 
golden  sentences  of  Mr.  Henry,  her  brother, 
"  God  is  sometimes  found  of  them  that  seek 
him  not,  but  he  is  always  found  of  them  that 
seek  him."  It  is  a  mercy  if  God  calls  us  by 
his  grace  in  any  way ;  but  where  the  cer- 
tainty of  the  change  is  so  extremely  obvious, 
the  subject  is  too  prone  to  rest  convinced  of 
the  fact,  instead  of  praying,  "  Create  in  me  a 
clean  heart,  0  God,  and  renew  a  right  spirit 
within  me."  From  the  apparent  magnitude 
of  the  change,  he  is  too  prone  to  feel,  as  if  it 
had  finished  a  work,  which  it  only  began. 
From  the  superior  notice  and  wonder  it  ex- 
cites, the  more  temptation  is  there  to  spiritual 
vanity  and  pride.  Tlie  suddenness  of  the  il- 
lumination frequently  dazzles  while  it  en- 
lightens ;  and  the  man  is  likely  to  feel  and 


PREFACE.  XIX 

retain  a  partial  attachment  to  some  one  reli- 
gious doctrine,  according  to  the  first  direction 
his  mind  takes  under  such  a  novel  and  pow- 
erful impression :  and  for  want  of  those  rela- 
tive views,  which  should  accompany  and 
qualify  and  direct  his  fervour,  his  zeal  is  sel- 
dom according  to  knowledge.  Often  too, 
coarseness  and  freedom  of  manners  result 
from  former  viciousncss  of  which  the  individ- 
uals themselves  are  not  aware,  but  which 
expose  them  in  their  social,  especially  female, 
intercourse.  I  never  knew  a  professor  of  re- 
ligion, or  a  preacher  of  the  word,  who  fell  by 
certain  temptations,  but  had  been,  previously 
to  his  connection  with  the  Christian  world, 
the  victim  of  vice.  JMoral  and  virtuous  habits 
produce  delicacy  and  impose  restraint.  For- 
mer scenes  of  guilt  will  often  revive  in  the 
imagination ;  and  though  they  are  not  enter- 
tained there,  yet  by  passing  through  the  mind, 
they  defile  it  and  distress  it.  I  have  heard 
more  than  one  pious  character  confess  the 
pain  and  injury  he  has  suffered  from  this 
quarter,  even  in  his  public  and  retired  devo- 
tions, and  who  would  have  given  the  world  to 
be  free  from  the  shocks  he  received  from  the 
hauntings  of  the  ghosts  of  his  old  iniquities. 
To  which  we  may  add,  that  though  morality 


XX  PREFACE. 

is  not  religion,  yet  it  is  a  social  benefit ;  but 
the  man  called  from  the  dregs  of  profanencss, 
has  to  look  back  upon  the  injury  he  has  done 
to  others,  and  to  mourn  over  ellects  which  he 
cannot  repair.  He  has  led  astray  many  whom 
he  may  never  be  able  to  reclaim ;  and  seeing 
those  running  the  downward  road,  whom  he 
led  into  it  and  encouraged  by  his  vices,  influ- 
ence, and  example,  how  often,  as  he  advances 
towards  Heaven,  which  he  is  almost  ashamed 
to  enter,  must  he  sigh  and  pray,  "  Deliver  me 
from  blood-guiltiness,  0  God  of  my  salvation." 
These  reflections  are  not  designed  to  exclude 
any  from  hope,  however  deeply  they  have 
transgressed ;  or  to  withhold  esteem  and  con- 
fidence from  those  who  have  obtained  mercy  ; 
but  to  remove  a  mistake  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon ;  and  to  induce  those  who  have  been 
preserved  from  vice,  to  be  peculiarly  thank- 
ful, that  they  were  moral  before  they  were 
converted ;  and  to  bless  God  for  those  early 
advantages  which  led  them  into  connected 
and  consistent  views  of  religion ;  and  that 
their  characters  were  formed  after  models  of 
excellency,  placed  constantly  in  sight,  and  en- 
deared by  all  the  claims  of  nature.  They  are 
designed  also  to  call  upon  parents,  not  to  leave 
their  children  to  a  kind  of  religious  chance  ; 


PREFACE.  XXI 

or  to  suppose  that  divine  grace  is  a  thing  per- 
fectly independent  of  rational  and  pious 
means,  instead  of  being  connected  with  them, 
and  conveyed  by  them,  and  in  them.  Let  the 
command  and  the  promise  be  ever  in  their 
mind  :  "  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  that  he 
should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he  will  not 
depart  from  it."  Not  that  means  are  ever 
sufficient  of  themselves  without  the  divine 
blessing  (and  therefore  there  is  as  much  need 
of  prayer  as  of  exertion) ;  but  when  God  has 
appointed  the  means,  and  engaged  to  bless 
them,  our  hope  is  well-founded ;  and  in  the 
proper  use  of  them  we  may  expect  success 
with  as  much  certainty,  as  in  nature,  the 
sower  expects  to  reap. 

Finally.  I  have  no  wish  to  hinder  the 
humbling  sense  of  inferiority,  which  persons 
acquainted  with  themselves  will  feel  in  read- 
ing these  papers.  There  are  certainly  de- 
grees of  religious  excellency.  Even  the  good 
ground  brought  forth  in  the  varied  propor- 
tions of  thirty,  sixty,  and  an  hundred,  fold. 
What  a  difference  do  we  see  between  Abra- 
ham and  Lot,  with  regard  to  lowliness  of 
mind,  self-denial,  and  a  spirit  of.  conciUation. 
What  a  difference  between  the  Centurion,  who 
took  our  Saviour  at  his  word  ;  and  Thomas, 


XXll  PREFACE. 

who  required  every  kind  of  sensible  evidence. 
And  Cln'istians  are  in  honour  to  prefer  one 
another.  Yet  it  should  be  remembered  that 
what  is  written  in  such  diaries  as  this,  is  the 
fruit  of  retirement  and  reflection,  and  the 
summary  of  the  best  feelings  called  forth  in 
the  presence  of  God.  And  whatever  modern 
Christians  think  of  themselves,  1  love  not  for 
others  to  view  them  as  a  race,  very  inferior  to 
those  who  lived  in  an  earlier  period.  "We 
know  who  has  said,  "  Say  not  thou.  What  is 
the  cause  that  the  former  days  were  better 
than  these  ?  for  thou  dost  not  inquire  wisely 
concerning  this." 

There  may  be  the  same  degree  of  religious 
principle,  while  yet  it  is  put  forth  in  different 
ways.  Even  the  constitutional  temper  will 
have  some  influence,  as  we  see  in  the  case  of 
JMartha  and  Mary,  There  was  the  same  re- 
gard to  our  Saviour  in  each,  but  Martha  was 
cumbered  about  much  serving,  while  Mary 
sat  at  his  feet  to  hear  his  words ;  and  when 
after  the  death  of  the  brother,  he  was  coming 
into  Bethany,  Martha  went  out  to  meet  him, 
but  Mary  sat  still  in  the  house.  Nor  should 
we  forget,  that  the  providence  of  God  often 
diversifies  the  direction  of  religious  principle. 
At  one  time  it  peculiarly  calls  forth  the  pas- 


PREFACE.  XXlll 

sivc,  at  another,  the  active,  graces  of  the 
Christian  :  at  one  season  it  requires  more  of 
the  private  exercises  of  godhness,  at  another 
more  of  its  pubhc  efforts :  winter  leads  the 
sap  down  into  the  roots,  while  summer  calls 
it  up  into  the  branches,  and  displays  it  in  the 
blossoms  and  the  fruit. 

We  readily  acknowledge,  that  with  regard 
to  the  more  private  and  retired  influence  of 
religion,  they  who  lived  in  the  days  of  Mrs. 
Savage  were  superior  to  the  generality  of 
modern  Christians :  but  we  make  no  scruple 
to  sa^--,  many  modern  Christians  are  far  supe- 
rior to  them  in  public  spirit  and  active  exer- 
tions. If  the  river  spreads  wide,  or  flows  in 
various  fertilizing  currents,  it  cannot  be  ex- 
pected to  roll  so  deep.  How  little  working 
comparatively,  do  we  find  even  in  the  feelii^s 
of  many  of  these  worthies  towards  the  cause 
of  God  at  large  !  Their  own  souls,  their  fa- 
milies, their  particular  churches,  these  drew 
forth  their  concern,  but  too  much  restricted 
it  too.  The  present  day  exhibits  a  very 
different  scene :  and  from  a  thousand  pubUc 
assemblies,  convened  for  the  very  purpose, 
and  evincing  their  sincerity  and  fervency  by 
their  efforts  and  sacrifices,  we  hear  the  ex- 
clamation, "  Let    the  whole  earth   be  filled 


XXIV  PREFACE. 

with  his  glory."  There  is  indeed  a  danger 
that  keeping  other  men's  vineyards  we  should 
not  be  attentive  to  our  own ;  and  that  our 
zeal  should  expend  itself  so  much  abroad,  as 
to  be  extinguished  before  it  reaches  home. 
On  the  other  hand  it  is  true  (though  liable  to 
perversion  and  abuse),  that  if  we  mind  God's 
alTairs  he  will  mind  ours;  and  that,  while 
doing  his  work,  he  that  watereth,  shall  be 
watered  also.  In  the  unprofitableness  of 
those  ministers,  the  ban-enncss  of  those 
churches,  and  the  deadness  of  those  profes- 
sors, who  from  their  selfishness,  or  sloth,  or 
any  doctrinal  restraint,  come  not  up  to  the 
help  of  the  Lord,  may  be  found  at  this  hour 
illustrations  of  the  truth  of  David's  words : 
"  Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem ;  they  shall 
prosper  that  love  thee." 

Had  many  Christians  now  living  been  co- 
temporaries  with  ]\Irs.  Savage,  they  would 
have  devoted  that  time  and  attention  to  reli- 
gion in  its  retreats,  which  seemed  not  so 
much  called  for  abroad.  And  had  many  who 
hved  in  her  days  been  born  in  om's,  they 
would  have  sprung  forth  at  the  call  of  those 
institutions  which  we  have  witnessed  ;  and, 
following  the  direction  of  Heaven,  have  fallen 
in  with  a  state  of  things  which  demands  the 


TREFACE.  XXV 

Utmost  co-operation  and  activity  ;  and  which 
not  only  allows,  but  demands  that  every 
subject  of  divine  grace  should  be  also  its 
instrument  and  its  agent :  and  when  by 
teaching  poor  children  and  adults  to  read  and 
write,  by  dispensing  Tracts,  by  aiding  Bible 
and  Missionary  Societies,  and  by  endeavour- 
ing to  evangelize  our  own  dark  villages, 
Christians,  as  well  as  preachers,  shall  be 
named  the  "  priests  of  the  Lord ;  and  men 
shall  call  them  the  ministers  of  our  God :" 
when  the  promise  made  to  the  church  shall 
be  fulfilled,  "They  that  be  of  thee  shall 
build  the  old  waste  places  ;  thou  shalt  raise 
up  the  foundation  of  many  generations  ;  and 
thou  shalt  be  called  the  repairer  of  the  breach, 
the  restorer  of  paths  to  dwell  in." 

This  is  the  glory  of  our  day  :  and  let  not 
Christians  be  comparatively  undervalued  be- 
cause they  obey  the  obvious  will  of  Provi- 
dence and  are  workers  together  with  God. 
The  period  so  long  prayed  for  is  arrived ;  and 
wc  are  required  to  rise,  even  from  our  devo- 
tions, and  serve.  We  could  employ  the 
hours  in  songs  of  praise ;  but  the  voice  cries, 
"  Work  while  it  is  called  to-day :"  and  you 
shall  soon  rest  from  your  labours,  and  join 
those  who  dwell  in  his  house  above,  and  are 


XXVI  PREFACE. 

Still  praising  him.  Christians  are  now  re- 
quired not  to  sit  still  and  record  their  feelings, 
but  to  endeavour  to  communicate  them.  They 
must  not  abide  by  the  stuff.  The  field  calls 
them.  The  harvest  is  come,  and  it  is  harvest 
weather;  and  the  ears,  ungathered  in,  will 
soon  fall  and  perish.  "  Say  ye  not,  There  are 
yet  four  months,  and  then  cometh  harvest  ? 
behold,  I  say  unto  you,  lift  up  your  eyes, 
and  look  on  the  fields ;  for  they  are  white 
already  to  harvest,  and  he  that  reapeth  re- 
ceiveth  wages,  and  gathereth  fruit  unto  life 
eternal :  that  both  he  that  soweth  and  he  that 
reapeth  may  rejoice  together." 

WJVI.  JAY. 

Bath,  May  2, 1818. 


■.^■ 


MEMOIRS 

OP 

MES.    SAEAPI    SAVAGE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Her  Birth,  Barhj  Piety,  and  Marriage. 

Sarah,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Phihp 
Henry  and  Katherine  his  wife,*  was  born 
August  7th,  1GG4,  at  Broad  Oak,  in  Fhntshire. 
Of  her  eminently  pious  parents  nothing  need 
be  here  said ;  their  praise  has  long  been  in  the 
churches. 

It  is  not  surprising  that,  at  this  distance  of 
time,  but  little  can  be  stated  as  to  the  early 
period  of  her  life.  The  discovery  of  an  un- 
usual degree  of  amiableness,  connected  with 
mental  energy,  secured  particular  attention  to 
her  education. 


*  Appendix  I. 
27 


28  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

She  was  taught  to  read  by  the  Rer.  Wil- 
liam Turner,  who,  prior  to  his  admission  into 
the  University,  resided  at  Broad  Oak  for  in- 
struction. Her  learned  father,  by  the  aid  of 
a  grammar  which  he  compiled  for  the  pur- 
pose, in  English,  instructed  her,  when  only  six 
or  seven  years  old,  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  and 
she  went  so  far  in  it  as  to  be  able  readily  to 
read  and  construe  a  Hebrew  Psalm. 

She  also,  while  young,  wrote  outlines  of  the 
sermons  she  heard  preached ;  and  her  diary 
frequently  mentions  the  comfort  and  edifica- 
tion she  experienced  in  reviewing  them.  This 
custom  was  continued  to  old  age,  and  many 
volumes  are  still  extant,  no  less  proofs  of  her 
industry  and  neatness,  than  valuable  speci- 
mens of  ministerial  skill  and  fidelity.  She 
preserved  in  writing,  likewise,  her  honoured 
parent's  stated  expositions  in  the  family,  and 
used  them,  through  life,  in  her  private  perusal 
of  the  Scriptures. 

Through  the  divine  blessing,  promised  to  a 
religious  education,  the  means  used  for  her 
spiritual  welfare  were  not  in  vain,  for  her 
parents  witnessed,  in  the  years  too  often  sin- 
fully employed,  a  devotedncss  to  God,  which 
could  not  fail  to  promote  their  veneration  and 
love  to  the  great  Author  of  saving  mercy. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  29 

Noticing,  when  seventy  years  of  age,  the 
period  alluded  to,  she  thus  expressed  herself; 
"  I  was  conceived  in  sin,  and  brought  forth  in 
iniquity ;  yet  a  kind  providence  took  care  of 
me,  and  preserved  me  safe  through  the  perils 
of  infancy.  My  great  Creator  and  benefactor 
endued  me  with  understanding,  reason,  a  ca- 
pacity to  learn,  but  infinite  goodness  gave  me 
early  advantages  by  religious  parents,  such  as, 
I  am  ready  to  think,  the  wdiolc  world  can 
hardly  produce  the  like.  I  was  betimes  taught 
my  catechism,  and  other  things  proper  for  my 
age.  I  had  excellent  examples.  Religion  was 
set  before  me  in  the  clearest  and  best  light. 
Secured,  by  privacy,  from  so  much  as  seeing 
the  corruptions  the  world  abounds  with,  for 
the  first  twenty  years  of  my  life,  I  do  not  re- 
member to  have  heard  an  oath,  or  to  have 
seen  a  person  drunk.  But  still,  this  was  but 
^negative  religion ;  the  free  grace  of  God,  in 
infinite  mercy,  took  early  hold  of  me,  and 
brought  me  to  feel  something  of  the  powers 
of  the  world  to  come." 

It  is  well  known  how  careful  Mr.  Henry 
was  to  give  serious  youth  an  early  introduc- 
tion to  the  Lord's  supper.  We,  therefore, 
find  Mrs.  Savage,  in  her  sixteenth  year,  a  guest 
at  the  sacred  table,  and  the  time  was  "  a  time 
3* 


so  MEMOIRS    OF    MKS.    SAVAGE. 

of  love."  Several  years  afterwards,  the  re- 
collection was  pleasant.  "  1697  (Sabbath,) 
May  23,  she  writes,  I  cannot  but  remember 
that  upon  this  day,  now  seventeen  years  ago, 
I  first  gave  up  my  name  to  God  in  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  supper.  There,  through 
his  goodness,  I  found  great  sweetness.  I  trust 
the  knot  was  then  tied,  and  the  bargain  made 
which  will  prove  an  everlasting  covenant, 
never  to  be  broken,  Amen," 

Henceforth  her  papers  record  increased 
anxiety  that,  by  departing  from  iniquity,  she 
might  adorn  the  gospel.  She  was  far  from 
being  satisfied  with  even  a  devotional  attend- 
ance at  "  the  feast,"  she  aimed  to  manifest  the 
reality  of  her  faith  by  zeal  for  "  good  works," 
and  so,  "  with  well  doing,  put  to  silence  the 
ignorance  of  foolish  men." 

How  much  soever  practical  godliness  may, 
by  some  soaring  religionists,  be  decried  as  too 
earthly  to  attract  their  notice,  or  as  too  legal 
to  interrupt  their  piety,  the  humble  Christian 
will  not  object  to  meet,  in  this  connexion,  with 
the  substance  of  one  of  Philip  Henry's  sermons 
on  the  important  subject.  It  is  introduced 
from  Mrs.  Savage's  copy ;  and  as  it,  very 
probably,  was  her  frequent  companion  in  the 
closet,  it  may  on  that  account,  appear  the 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  31 

more  interesting.  The  text  is,  Psalm  1.  23. 
"  Whoso  oflbreth  praise  glorifieth  me  :  and  to 
him  that  ordereth  his  conversation  aright,  will 
I  shew  the  salvation  of  God." 

"There  is  a  question.  Psalm  cxvi.  12. 
*'  What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his 
benefits  I"  These  words  are  an  answer  to  it. 
Two  things  you  must  render — praise — a  well 
ordered  conversation. 

1.  Praise.  Be  inwardly  thankful  in  heart. 
Be  outwardly  thankful  i\  word.  This  is  our 
rent,  to  be  paid  daily,  according  as  our  re- 
ceivings are.  He  that  doth  this  is  said  to  glo- 
rify God,  that  is, 

Pleases  him.  "  Glorifies  me."  Does  the  thing 
that  I  delight  in.  The  prayer  of  the  upright 
is  his  delight.  But  he  hath  more  delight  in 
their  thanksgiving  than  in  their  prayers,  be- 
cause therein  they  do  not  seek  themselves,  but 
,W'holly  his  glory. 

Glorifies  me,  that  is,  gets  me  a  good  name 
among  men. 

2.  Besides  this ;  another  duty  is  to  look  to 
our  conversation.  Those  that  have  received 
mercy  from  God  should  be  very  careful  about 
their  conversation. 

You  have  all  reason  to  feel  weight  from 


32  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

God's  benefits ;  are  you  willing  to  know  what 
you  shall  render  1 

Doctrine.  Though  thanks  giving  be  very 
good,  yet  thanks  living  is  a  great  deal  better. 

What  is  to  be  done  that  ours  may  be  a 
well-ordered  conversation  ?  Two  things  are 
of  great  concernment. 

1.  Our  conversion.  Are  we  new  crea- 
tures? born  again?  Are  we  passed  from 
death  unto  life?  Without  this  there  is  no 
salvation.  Matt,  xviii.  3.  I  pray  see  to  this. 
Let  there  be  a  principle.     Matt.  xii.  33. 

2.  Our  conversation.  This  must  be  or- 
dered aright.  What  is  that  ?  I  answer,  living 
and  walking  by  rule,  as  soldiers  are  set  rank 
and  file  in  their  march.  "  These  things  hast 
thou  done,  and  I  kept  silence ;  thou  thoughtest 
that  I  was  altogether  such  an  one  as  thyself; 
but  I  will  reprove  thee,  and  set  them  in  order 
before  thine  eyes."  Psalm  L  21.  There  is  a 
time  coming  when  God  will  set  our  disorders 
in  order.  There  are  omissions  and  commis- 
sions, sins  of  ignorance  and  sins  of  presump- 
tion. He  that  orders  his  conversation  aright 
now,  need  not  be  afraid  of  the  day  of  judg- 
ment. A  sad  sight  it  will  be  when  God  shall 
set  all  the  sins  of  a  wicked  man  before  him. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  33 

I  shall  give  some  rules  for  the  ordering  of 
the  conversation  aright. 

1.  Begin  and  end  every  day  with  God. 
He  is  the  Alpha  and  Omega,  Make  him  so. 
When  you  awake,  let  your  first  thoughts  be 
of  God,  not  of  the  world,  or  vanity.  Lift  up 
your  thoughts  in  thankfulness  for  the  rest  of 
the  night,  for  the  health  of  the  morning.  Will 
you  remember  this? 

When  you  arc  up,  you  must  make  a  more 
solemn  bushiess  of  it.  God  expects  to  find 
you  somewhere  alone,  every  morning.  "  In 
the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer  unto 
thee."  Afterwards,  in  the  family.  In  a  well- 
ordered  conversation,  the  man  dares  not  go 
about  worldly  business  till  he  and  his  family 
have  been  together  to  worship  God.  In  the 
evening,  worship  God  in  your  families  also. 
Pray  alone.  Close  the  day  with  God.  Let 
prayer  be  the  key  of  the  morning,  and  the 
bolt  of  the  night.  And,  see  to  the  manner  of 
it,  that  it  be  done  after  a  due  order.  "  I  will 
wash  mine  hands  in  innocency ;  so  will  I  com- 
pass thine  altar,  O  Lord." 

2.  Set  the  Lord  always  before  you.  He  is 
always  before  you.  His  eye  is  always  upon 
us.  But  do  you  set  him  before  you?  "Mine 
eye  is  ever  towards  the  Lord."     "  Behold,  as 


34  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

the  eyes  of  servants  look  unto  the  hand  of 
their  masters,  and  as  the  eyes  of  a  maiden 
unto  the  hand  of  her  mistress ;  so  our  eyes 
wait  upon  the  Lord  our  God."  Do  all  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  the  glory  of 
God. 

3.  Be  good  husbands  of  time,  especially 
of  opportunity  time.  Time  is  precious.  Ask 
dying  people.  Ask  damned  people.  An  inch 
of  time  is  worth  a  wedge  of  gold.  I  believe 
wherever  God  gives  grace  to  a  man,  from 
that  time  he  will  value  time  at  another  rate 
than  before.  Especially  value  opportunities. 
These  are  the  cream  of  time,  whether  of  doing 
or  getting  good.  Improve  them.  "  Whatso- 
ever thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it."  Eccles. 
ix.  10.  Time  may  last,  and  opportunity  be 
gone  ;  "  Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard."  This 
present  day  is  a  price.  I  pray  improve  it. 
Think  what  shall  I  do  for  God,  or  for  my  soul, 
this  day. 

4.  Be  diligent  in  your  callings.  Each  of 
us  ought  to  have  a  calling.  We  are  not  to 
stand  idle  in  the  market-place  of  this  world. 
The  first  Adam,  heir  apparent  of  the  world, 
had  a  calling,  so  had  the  second  Adam.  For 
thirty  years  together  our  Lord  worked  with 
his  supposed  father  in  the  trade  of  a  carpen- 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  35 

ter,  "  Be  diligent  to  know  the  state  of  ihy 
flocks."  Whatsoever  your  calling  is,  therein 
abide  with  God.  Let  it  be  never  so  mean,  if 
honest,  and  followed  diligently,  with  an  eye 
to  God,  he  accepts  us.  Take  heed  of  inordi- 
nateness.  Those  are  too  busy  who  cannot 
find  time  from  their  calling  to  attend  the 
service  of  God.  Be  industrious  in  the  fear 
of  God. 

5.  Look  well  to  the  duties  of  your  particu- 
lar relations.  It  is  a  certain  truth,  that  you 
are  really  what  you  are  relatively,  as  hus- 
bands and  wives,  parents  and  children,  bro- 
thers and  sisters,  masters  and  servants,  and 
fellow-servants.  A  well-ordered  conversation 
discharges  the  duties  of  each  of  these  rela- 
tions M'ith  all  might  in  the  fear  of  God.  "  I 
and  my  house  will  serve  the  Lord,"  not  only 
in  immediate  acts  of  worship,  but  in  all  family 
relations  and  duties.  The  second  and  third 
chapters  of  St.  Peter's  first  Epistle  are  to  di- 
rect in  the  several  relations.  All  is  com- 
prised in  one  word,  love.  Walk  in  love,  and 
dwell  in  love.  There  is  no  walking,  no 
dwelling  like  this.  They  that  dwell  in  love 
dwell  in  God,  and  shall  be  with  him  forever. 
A  whole  Psalm,  the  cxxxiii. ;  a  whole  chap- 
ter, 1  Cor.  xiii. ;  a  whole  book  of  Scripture, 


36  MEMOIRS    OP    MUS.    SAVAGE. 

the  first  Epistle  of  John,  all  written  to  com- 
mend brotherly  love. 

6.  Be  careful  what  company  you  keep. 
Psalm  i.  1.  Acts  ii.  40.  Be  not  delighted  in 
that  company  that  you  would  not  be  with  for- 
ever. "  I  am  a  companion  of  all  them  that 
fear  thee." 

7.  Set  a  watch  over  the  door  of  thy  lips. 
Psalm  cxU.  2.  By  our  words  we  shall  be 
justified,  by  our  words  condemned.  Some 
say,  "  Our  lips  are  our  own."  Do  not  say  so. 
Do  not  think  so.  The  sound  of  the  vessel 
discovers  the  emptiness  of  it.  Those  that  are 
bound  for  Canaan  must  not  speak  the  language 
of  Ashdod.  Be  the  first  to  begin  good  dis- 
course, never  the  first  to  let  it  fall. 

8.  Acknowledge  God  in  all  thy  ways. 
Knock  at  his  door.  Beg  of  him  guidance 
and  direction,  success  and  a  blessing.  Ask 
at  his  mouth,  "  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me 
to  do?"  Own  him  in  your  successes.  In 
your  disappointments  acknowledge  him.  Tlie 
Lord  is  pleased  to  disappoint  me  in  this. 

9.  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it 
holy.  I  fear  God  hath  a  controversy  with 
our  nation  about  this.  Our  fights  and  our 
fires  discover  this  so  plainly,  that  he  that  runs 
may  read.   London  fire  began  on  the  Sabbath 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE-  37 

day.  So  did  divers  others.  You  will  find 
that,  according  as  you  keep  the  Sabbath,  your 
worldly  affairs  succeed  well  or  not ;  "  Will  a 
man  rob  God  ?" 

10.  Die  daily.  Let  no  day  pass  without 
some  serious  thoughts  or  words  about  death 
and  the  grave.  This  will  help  to  make  you 
serious.  It  was  Paul's  practice,  "  I  die  daily.'* 
Do  something  every  day  to  make  your  dying 
day  comfortable. 

11.  Honour  the  Lord  with  thy  substance; 
that  is,  dishonour  him  with  no  part  of  it,  and 
pay  him  his  rent  out  of  it,  in  charity  to  the 
poor.  They  are  God's  receivers,  and  are  al- 
ways with  us. 

12.  Make  Christ  your  all  in  all.  Make 
Christ  your  strength,  to  assist  you  in  duty. 
Make  him  your  righteousness,  for  nothing 
we  do  is,  or  can  be,  acceptable  to  God. 
None  but  Christ,  none  but  Christ.  I  live 
tipon  him.  I  live  by  him.  I  live  through 
him. 

INIrs.  Savage,  a  few  years  after  her  public 
profession  of  religion,  commenced  that  par- 
ticular scries  of  writing,  to  which  I  am  in- 
debted for  the  most  interesting  parts  of  her 
biography.  "August,  1686,  I  have  had  it," 
she  remarks,  "  in  my  thoughts  to  do  some- 
4 


88  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

thing  in  the  nature  of  a  Diary,  being  encou- 
raged by  the  advantages  others  have  gained 
thereby,  and  the  hope  that  I  might  be  fur- 
thered by  it  in  a  godly  hfe,  and  be  more 
watchful  over  the  frame  of  my  heart  when  it 
must  be  kept  on  record.  I  would  ai)prove 
myself  to  God,  who  alone  knows  the  sin- 
cerity of  my  heart.  To  him  I  have  made  my 
request  known  herein,  and  I  heartily  beg 
that  what  I  shall  at  any  time  put  down  may 
be  the  true  workings  of  my  heart,  and  that 
I  may  in  nothing  bear  false  witness  against 
myself." 

The  following  year,  March  28,  1687,  she 
was  married  to  Mr.  John  Savage,  a  respect- 
able farmer  and  land  agent,  residing  at  Wren- 
bury -Wood,  near  Nantwich,  in  Cheshire.  Her 
notice  of  the  annual  return  of  that  day  evinces 
much  gratitude  for  the  providential  kindness 
which  she  experienced  in  the  important 
change.  She  was  not  unequally  yoked.  Mr. 
Savage  appears  to  have  been  a  pious,  active, 
and  useful  man.  It  was  his  custom,  in  addi- 
tion to  family  and  closet  duties,  to  pray  with 
his  wife  morning  and  evening,  and  it  pleased 
God  to  continue  them  together  on  earth  forty- 
two  years. 

Mr.  Henry,  conformably  to  the  pious  cus- 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  39 

torn  of  the  times,  addressed  a  sermon  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Savage  on  their  marriage.  The 
text  was  Genesis  ii.  22.  "And  brought  her 
unto  the  man."* 

"Weddings  are  Hkely," he  observed" to  be 
comfortable,  when  God  brings  the  married 
couple  to  each  other.  All  who  come  together, 
do  so  by  his  common  providence.  A  sparrow 
doth  not  fall  to  the  ground  without  him.  But 
there  is  a  special  providence  to  be  owned, 
when  people  marry  in  the  Lord.  That  a  mar- 
riage may  be  in  the  Lord,  it  is  necessary  that 
the  proceeding  be  according  to  rule.  In  res- 
pect of  parties,  they  must  not  be  too  near  in 
relation,  nor  too  far  off  in  age,  quality,  and 
profession.  The  more  suitableness,  the  more 
likely  is  it  that  they  were  brought  together  by 
God.  Solomon  missed  it  in  marrying  strange 
wives,  and  it  was  his  ruin.  Sons  of  God 
should  not  match  with  the  daughters  of  men. 
Be  not  unequally  yoked.  There  should  be  free 
consent  of  both  parties,  and  parents  also.  Pa- 
rents are  not  to  infringe  children's  right,  by 
forcing  them,  nor  children  theirs,  by  dispo- 
posing  of  themselves.     It  should  be  managed 

*  Dear  father  preached  at  family  prayer  that  night,  from  that 
ecripture  in  Genesis,'and  brought  her  to  the  man.'  Mrs.  Savage. 
Diar)-,  Orig.  MS. 


40  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

as  an  ordinance  of  God,  sanctified  by  the  word 
of  God  and  prayer. 

"  What  God  brings,  he  will  bless  to  us,  and 
what  he  blesses,  must  needs  be  comfortable. 
When  God  blows  upon  any  thing,  it  never 
prospers.  Psalm  cxxvii.  1."* 

A  sermon  preached  by  his  son,  Matthew 
Henry,  on  a  similar  occasion,  is  given  in  the 
Appendix.t 

A  pious  solicitude  honourably  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  her  new  relation,  is  apparent  in 
her  diary.  The  anticipation  of  them  was  con- 
nected with  fervent  prayer,  and  her  uniform 
deportment  proved  that  the  petitions  were 
sincere. 

The  first  visit  she  received,  in  her  new 
abode,  from  her  excellent  father,  is  thus  no- 
ticed. "  He  read  and  expounded  the  ci.  Psalm 
(well  styled  the  householder's  Psalm,)  and  gave 
us  these  rules  always  to  act  by ;  well  worth 
remembering.  That  God,  who  is  the  first  and 
best,  must  be  served  with  the  first  and  best. 
That  except  the  Lord  build  the  house,  they  la- 
bour in  vain  that  build  it.  That  every  crea- 
ture is  that  to  us  that  God  makes  it  to  be,  com- 
fortable or  uncomfortable.  That  man's  life 
and  happiness  does  not  consist  in  the  abundance 

•  From  Mrs.  Savage's  MS.  +  Appendix  II. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  41 

of  what  he  possesses.  That  the  things  of  time 
and  the  body  are  not  to  be  compared  with  the 
tilings  of  the  soul,  and  eternity." 

As  from  this  period,  her  rehgious  principles 
were  necessarily  more  fully  called  into  exer- 
cise, it  will  not  be  unprofitable  to  mark  with 
increased  attention,  their  holy  influence.  Re- 
ligion did  not  flow,  in  her  soul,  as  a  contracted 
rivulet  in  a  subterraneous  cavern,  but,  like 
a  widely-extended  river,  by  its  fertilizing 
streams,  it  enhvened  and  enriched  the  sphere 
in  which  she  moved. 


4* 


42  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Her  Character.* 

To  delineate  the  character  of  persons  long 
smce  dead  is,  indeed,  a  task :  but  happily,  in 
the  present  instance,  the  difficulty  is  materially 
lessened  by  Mrs.  Savage's  pious  industry. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  eulogize,  but,  for 
public  advantage,  to  represent  this  excellent 
woman  with  all  possible  fidelity.  That  she 
had  faults  none  can  doubt;  though,  to  adopt 
the  language  of  lier  funeral  sermon,  (an  au- 
thentic copy  of  which,  in  manuscript,  is  in  the 
author's  possession,)  "  This  testimony  is  borne 
of  her,  that  notwithstanding  the   many  and 

*  Mrs.  Brett  informed  me  in  conversation,  that  slie  distinctly 
remembers  her  pious  ancestor.  In  stature  she  was  rather  short 
and  corpulent,  with  features  more  hke  the  painting  of  her  father 
than  that  of  her  mother,  The  sprighthness  of  her  disposition 
appeared  even  in  old  age,  and  she  constantly  promoted,  by 
heavenly  converse,  the  edification  of  all  around  her.  Mrs.  Brett 
was  often  catechized  by  her,  and  still  preserves  a  prayer  which 
she  composed  for  her  use.  It  is  a  pleasing  specimen  of 
simple  language,  comprehenaive  brevity,  and  pious  supplica- 
tion. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  43 

great  trials  she  met  with  in  a  large  family  of 
children  and  servants,  above  forty  years,  she 
was  never  seen  so  much  in  a  passion  as  to 
say  or  do,  what  she  might  have  cause  to  ac- 
cuse and  reproach  herself  for  afterwards." 

She,  however,  deplored  her  native  depra- 
vity, and  keenly  observed  those  effects  which 
passed  unnoticed  by  surrounding  friends.  She 
needed  no  arguments  to  prove  that,  as  in  the 
natural,  so  in  the  moral  world,  there  are  no 
gardens  without  weeds,  no  trees  without  su- 
perfluous branches.  It  was  an  habitual  dis- 
cernment of  indwelling  sin  (a  siglit  only 
beheld  by  a  spiritual  eye)  which,  as  it  mani- 
fested the  necessity  of  daily  mortification, 
excited  fervent  aspirations  after  heavenly 
felicities.  Hence  on  one  occasion,  she  writes ; 
"  Friday  night.  In  my  closet  I  was  much 
cheered  and  revived  by  thinking  of  the  second 
coming  of  Christ,  especially  with  that  scrip- 
ture, Acts  iii.  19,  where  it  is  called  the  "  time 
of  refreshing."  Such,  indeed,  it  will  be.  Here 
I  am  often  tired  with  duty,  tired  with  sinning, 
tired  with  a  corrupt  heart ;  sometime  tired 
and  weary  with  just  nothing.  Oh,  but  there 
is  a  time  of  refreshing  coming.  Well  may  it 
be  called  so.  Mr.  Alleine,  in  one  of  his  let- 
ters, speaks  thus,  to   comfort   Christians  in 


44  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

their  sufferings.  '  Wait  awhile,  and  you  shall 
have  a  blessed  heaven.'  The  Lord  speaks 
to  a  Christian  as  one  did  to  his  creditor; 
*  Have  patience  with  me,  and  I  will  pay  thee 
all.'  Oh,  for  faith  and  patience!  How^  safely 
and  sweetly  would  these  carry  us  to  our  home 
and  harbour,  through  all  dilhculties." 

At  another  time  thus ;  "  I  lately  heard  a 
good  remark.  Why  should  those  go  mourn- 
ing to  the  grave  who  hope  to  go  rejoicing  to 
Heaven?  Yet  I  find  my  spirit  lean  to  the 
mourninc:  side.  What  with  our  own  and 
others'  sins,  and  our  own  and  others'  sor- 
rows, this  world  may  well  be  called  a  vale 
of  tears.  Blessed  be  God  for  a  comfortable 
hope  that  shortly  they  shall  all  be  wiped 
away.  The  blessed  saints  above  obtain  joy 
and  gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall 
flee  away." 

Mrs.  Savage  in  her  natural  temper  was 
contented  and  cheerful,  meek  and  affectionate. 

Filial  duties  were  eminently  observed  by 
her.    Slie  "  honoured  her  father  and  mother." 

In  the  conjugal  relation  she  happily  dis- 
covered the  influence  of  Christianity.  Her 
attentions  to  her  husband,  though  minute,  were 
not  confined  to  "  things  temporal ;"  she  assidu- 
ously studied  the  advancement  of  his  spiritual 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  45 

interests.  Her  diary  shows  that  when  secular 
business  lawfully  occupied  his  time,  she  was 
a  Irequent  intercessor  at  the  throne  of  grace, 
that  his  heart  might  not  be  too  much  en- 
gaged. 

She  loved  home,  and,  as  the  head  of  a 
family,  aimed,  by  setting  a  pattern  of  cheer- 
ful, serious  piety,  to  walk  "  as  becometh  the 
gospel."  For  the  spiritual  welfare  of  her  do- 
mestics she  cherished  a  holy  zeal,  and  dis- 
covered it  by  regular  and  patient  instruction, 
as  well  as  fervent  prayer.  "  Oh,"  she  writes, 
soon  after  her  marriage,  "that  the  family 
might  be  the  better  for  me.  As  far  as  I  know 
my  own  heart,  I  earnestly  desire  the  salvation 
of  every  soul  under  our  roof.  Oh,  that  they 
did  but  see  what  I  see  of  the  excellency  of 
Christ,  the  sinfulness  of  sin,  and  the  vanity  of 
creatures !" 

She  was  the  mother  of  nine  children,  but 
only  four  of  them  survived  her.  The  care  and 
tenderness  she  discovered  in  their  infancy  did 
not  exceed  her  concern  for  their  souls.  As 
they  advanced  in  years  her  pious  anxiety  in- 
creased, and  no  pains  were  spared  to  teach 
them  the  things  of  God.  A  considerable  part 
of  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath  was  devoted 
to  family  instruction.      She  excelled  in  the 


46  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

happy  art  of  recommending  religion  to  the 
young.  She  gained  tlieir  attention,  and,  by  a 
careful  representation  of  piety,  as  the  reverse 
of  every  thing  harsh  and  severe,  they  were 
encouraged  to  be  inquisitive  on  divine  sub- 
jects. To  her  instructions  were  added  the 
most  affectionate  prayers ;  and  her  children, 
when  not  immediately  under  her  inspection, 
were  visited  with  such  letters  of  piety  and 
love,  as,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  were  calcu- 
lated to  produce  the  happiest  effects. 

Her  diary  abounds  with  expressions  of  con- 
cern for  her  children.  "Oh,"  she  writes,  on 
one  occasion,  "  that  I  could  be  every  day 
travailing  to  see  Christ  formed  in  them.  This 
week  I  was  much  affected  when  reading,  in 
course.  Proverbs  xxx.  8.  "  Remove  far  from 
me  vanity  and  lies."  It  is  the  only  prayer  in 
that  book.  Mcthinks  it  is  a  very  proper  prayer 
for  children.  I  have  earnestly  begged  of  God 
to  remove  from  mine,  vanity  and  lies." 

At  another  time  thus;  "I  read  in  course, 
in  my  closet,  Isaiah  liv.  with  ihc  Exposition. 
I  was  much  affected  with  the  13th  verse, 
'  And  all  thy  children  shall  be  taught  of  the 
Lord.'  Though  it  is  spoken  of  the  Church's 
children,  I  would  api)ly  it  to  my  own  children 
in  particular,  and  desire  to  act  faith  on  it.     I 


MEMOIRS    OF    ftras.    SAVAGE.  47 

am  caring  and  endeavouring  that  they  may 
be  taught  and  instructed  in  the  good  way. 
This  is  the  inward  desire  of  my  soul.  Now, 
saith  God,  they  sliall  be  taught  of  me,  and  all 
thy  children  shall.  A  sweet  promise.  It  much 
satisfies  me.  Lord,  set  in  with  poor  parents 
who  desire  nothing  in  the  world  so  much  as 
to  see  their  children  walk  in  '  the  narrow  way ' 
that  leads  to  life." 

As  a  friend  she  shone  with  peculiar  lustre. 
Her  enjoyment  of  the  society  of  her  friends 
was  ever  improved  to  spiritual  purposes. 
Mutual  exhortation  and  prayer  were  special 
objects  of  attention ;  and  some  portion  of 
scripture  being  selected  as  a  parting  farewell, 
happily  lessened,  by  an  elevated  style  of 
thought,  the  pangs  of  separation. 

Tidings  having  suddenly  reached  her  of 
the  illness  of  one  whom  she  regarded  in  that 
character,  she  remarks,  "  My  heart  was  full, 
my  remedy  is  to  retire  and  spread  the  letter 
before  a  compassionate  Father,  and  tell  him 
how  it  is,  which  I  find  more  easy  tlian  to  sub- 
mit freely  to  his  all-wise  disposal ;  yet,  when 
I  had  done  this,  I  was  refreshed." 

The  death  of  a  friend  was  no  trifling  oc- 
currence ;  every  feeling  was  exercised,  and 
the  most  sacred  efforts  resorted  to,  that  the 


48  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

event  might  be  follow^ed  by  entire  resignation, 
and  personal  benefit. 

"  Nor  was  the  funeral  denied  the  grace 
Of  many  tears,  virtuous  and  thoughtful  grief; 
Heart-sorrow,  rendered  sweet  by  gratitude." 

IVurdswurtli't  Excurtion, 

Thus  she  records  the  loss  of  an  acquaint- 
ance ;  "  My  dear  friend,  Mrs.  Bradbiirn, 
having  brought  a  living  child  into  this  world, 
went  herself,  about  four  hours  after,  to  a 
better.  She  went,  as  I  hear,  triumphantly  to 
glory,  sweetly  sleeping  in  Jesus.  I  heard  not 
of  it  till  Friday.  I  was  then  much  affected. 
I  could  not  quiet  my  spirit  for  some  time.  A 
dear  praying  friend  left  us,  and  gone  to  re- 
ceive the  reward  of  her  work.  Indeed  she 
lived  much  in  a  little  time,  and  was  a  pattern 
of  piety.  Great  need  of  such.  May  I  not  cry 
to  God  as  one  did  to  the  dying  prophet,  "  My 
father,  my  father,  the  chariots  of  Israel,  and 
the  horsemen  thereof.'  '  Were  it  not  that  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  hath  left  us  a  small  remnant 
we  had  surely  been  like  Sodom  ere  now.' 
And  wilt  thou  lessen  the  number  of  thy  pray- 
ing ones  ?  Surely  it  bodes  ill ;  especially,  now 
there  is  so  much  need  of  such.  But  shall  the 
clay  contend  with  the  potter?  His  will  is 
his  wisdom.     Infinite  wisdom  sees  good  thus 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  49 

it  sliall  be.     With  that  I  silence  my  murmur- 
ings." 

On  the  death  of  her  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
Radford,  of  Chester,  in  the  year  1699,  she 
thus  wrote;  "  Lord,  what  work  has  sin  made! 
It  is  the  old  kill-friend.  What  a  great  many 
of  our  dear  relations  have  been  snatched  away 
from  us  in  a  short  time.  All  in  the  midst  of 
their  days  and  usefulness.  O  that  my  heart 
were  more  duly  affected,  and  that  I  could  be 
learning  the  meaning  of  these  providences, 
which  have  really  a  sad  aspect.  There  is 
reason  to  fear  when  God  houses  his  people  so 
fast,  that  a  storm  is  coming.  I  am  told  dear 
brother  Radford  finished  admirably  well,  and 
gave  great  satisfaction  as  to  the  safety  of  his 
eternal  state.  Is  it  not  matter  of  comfort,  that 
our  dear  friends  have  safely  escaped  the  cor- 
ruptions, and  entanglements  of  this  evil  world, 
landed  at  their  everlasting  rest?  Brother 
Henry*  preached  his  funeral  sermon  on  Tues- 
day evening,  August  22,  from  Psalm  Ixxxviii. 
18.  '  Lover  and  friend  hast  thou  put  far  from 
me,  and  mine  acquaintance  into  darkness.'  It 
is  God  who  removes  them.  They  are  put  far 
out  of  our  sight,  out  of  hearing,  out  of  our 
reach.     He  gave  the  following  directions: — 

*  Appendix  III. 
5 


50  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

Bless  God  for  the  lovers  and  friends  we  have 
had,  and  for  the  comfort  wc  have  had  in  them. 
Learn  by  such  providences  to  cease  from  man. 
Retain  the  remembrance  of  the  love  and  friend- 
ship of  those  who  are  now  removed.  Imitate 
them  in  what  is  virtuous  and  praise-worthy. 
Let  it  make  death  and  the  grave  more  fami- 
liar to  us.  Diligently  prepare  to  follow  after. 
Bless  God  for  the  remnant  that  are  left  of  our 
lovers  and  friends.  Since  they  are  thus  re- 
moved from  us,  let  us  make  sure  of  a  friend 
and  a  lover  that  will  never  fail.  -He  said  that 
under  such  providences  it  is  comfortable  to 
believe,  that,  though  put  far  from  us  they  are 
gone  nearer  to  God ;  though  they  are  removed 
from  us,  God  is  not.  Wc  are  going  to  them, 
and  shall  be  with  them  shortly." 

It  would  be  easy  to  illustrate,  with  valuable 
matter,  Mrs.  Savage's  general  character ;  but, 
it  being  my  intention  to  notice,  more  particu- 
larly, those  features  of  it  which  seem  best 
calculated  for  edification,  I  shall,  at  once,  at- 
tempt a  delineation,  hoping  to  illustrate,  there- 
by, the  essential  principles  of  religion.  An 
admirer  of  creation  is  not  satisfied  with  casu- 
ally surveying  a  rich  landscape,  but,  for  im- 
provement as  well  as  gratification,  finds  plea- 
sure m  visiting  and  individualizing  its  minuter 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  51 

beauties.  So  a  spiritual  mind  delights  to 
expatiate  on  regenerating  mercy,  and  to  trace, 
in  the  "  heirs  of  salvation,"  the  moral  image 
of  their  Saviour. 

As  there  is  a  beautiful  uniformity  in  Chris- 
tian experience,  the  following  extracts  may 
serve  to  show  that  the  people  of  God  are  en- 
gaged in  a  conflict,  emphatically  styled  spi- 
ritual ;  that  devotional  exercises  are  their 
element ;  that  their  hopes  of  divine  acceptance 
rest  exclusively  on  the  meritorious  sacrifice 
of  Christ ;  that  "  things  above  "  engross  their 
affections;  that  present  attainments  cannot 
satisfy  them ;  that  universal  obedience,  and 
entire  resignation  to  the  will  of  heaven,  are 
their  habitual  aim.  In  short,  that  religious 
excellence  is  characterized  by  godly  fear,  holy 
love,  and  spiritual  joy. 


SECTION  I. 

Her  Diligence  in  improving   Time,  and  in 
studious  Exercises. 

When  the  toil  and  bustle  connected  with  a 
farm-house,  and  a  large  family,  are  consi- 
dered, it  is  truly  astonishing  how  so  much 


52  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

was  accomplished.  It  should  be  borne  in 
mind,  that  her  preparation  for  eternity,  wliich 
it  will  appear  was  most  exemplary,  never  hin- 
dered her  secular  afiairs.  Her  eye  was  fixed 
upon  the  land  of  Canaan,  but  she  perseveringly 
walked  in  the  paths  of  appointed  duty.  She 
attended,  diligently,  to  the  routine  of  the 
kitchen  and  the  dairy,  the  market  and  the 
fair.  "Conscientious  waiting  upon  God,"  it 
is  observed  in  her  funeral  sermon,  "  neither 
prevented  her  discharging  her  duty  to  those 
who  were  about  her,  nor  hurried  her  to  the 
neglect  of  her  temporal  concerns.  So  re- 
markable was  her  diligence  in  her  family, 
that,  excepting  the  portion  of  time  which  she 
consecrated  to  God,  it  is  said  of  her,  by  one 
that  observed  and  knew  her  well  for  forty 
years,  that  she  was  not  idle  or  unemployed, 
no,  not  a  moment.  She  very  well  understood 
and  knew  that  her  duty  to  God  did,  by  no 
means,  oblige  her  to  neglect  the  duties  of  a 
wife,  a  mother,  or  a  mistress.  When  out  of 
the  more  immediate  service  of  God,  she  was 
constantly  discharging  these.  Religion  is  no 
friend  to  sloth,  confusion,  and  indolence." 

Mrs.  Savage  habitually  rose  early,  and  so 
miserly  was  she  of  time,  that  when,  through 
the  disturbances  of  nursing,  or  other  causes, 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  53 

she  slept  too  long,  her  diary  records  especial 
dissatisfaction  and  regret. 

It  -\vas  the  order  and  -wisdom  of  her  house- 
hold regulations,  which  enabled  her  to  redeem 
time  for  mental  improvement.  She  thought 
much,  and,  considering  her  pressing  engage- 
ments, she  read  much.  Good  books  were  her 
treasure ; 

" Their  familiar  voice 


Even  to  old  asc,  with  unabated  charm. 

Beguiled  her  leisure  hours ;  refreshed  her  thoughts." 

IVoTdtworlh, 

Her  acquaintance  with,  and  delight  in,  the 
Holy  Scriptures  was  extensive  and  sincere, 
and  laid  a  firm  foundation  for  the  accurate 
knowledge  she  discovered  of  the  system  of 
revealed  truth.  The  Psalms  of  David,  and 
St.  Paul's  Epistles,  were  peculiarly  admired. 
During  the  last  years  of  her  life  she  usually, 
while  at  work,  kept  the  Bible  within  reach, 
that  she  might  turn  to  such  portions  as  were 
the  subjects  of  meditation.  With  reading 
the  Scriptures  (in  regular  order)  and  her 
father's  Exposition,  she  commonly  began 
the  day;  and  the  wakeful  hours  of  night 
were  usually  improved  by  repeating,  from 
memory,  Psalms,  and  Hymns,  and  Cate- 
chisms. 

5* 


54  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

The  following  are  pleasing  specimens  of  a 
devout  perusal  of  the  divine  word,  in  which 
she  particularly  recognises  the  goodness  of 
God.  "  Wednesday  morning,  I  read  in  course 
Ezckiel  xvi.  A  portion  of  scripture,  where 
as  in  a  glass,  I  may  see  my  own  face.  His 
kindness  to  that  poor  forlorn  infant  was  great. 
Surely  such  was  his  kindness  to  me  in  in- 
fancy, when  I  was  wholly  polluted  and  defiled 
with  original  con'uption.  Then  he  had  com- 
passion on  me,  washed  me  with  water,  entered 
into  covenant  with  me  in  baptism,  so  that  I 
became  his.  He  decked  me  with  ornaments, 
viz :  natural  abilities,  both  of  body  and  mind, 
in  a  competent  manner.  In  a  word,  he  did 
much  for  me.  But  I  was  unthankful,  fought 
against  him  with  his  own  weapons.  Yet  he 
was  pleased  to  follow  me  with  the  calls  of  his 
grace,  till,  at  last,  he  made  them  effectual,  and 
brought  me  home  to  himself.  To  the  king, 
eternal,  immortal,  invisible,  be  honour  and 
glory  forever.     Amen." 

"  Sabbath,  July  15,  1694.  I  did  not  awake 
with  thoughts  suitable  to  the  day.  Is  my 
Lord  risen,  and  is  my  heart  so  low  and  cold  ? 
I  was  lately  refreshed  by  reading,  in  the 
family,  Daniel  xii.  13,  How  comfortably 
does  that  book  close  !  The   good  man  had 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  55 

great  revelation  of  things  to  come,  and  he 
seems,  by  the  story,  to  have  desii'ed  earnestly 
to  see  the  coming  of  Christ,  and  the  accom- 
plishment of  the  great  things  he  iiad  been  told 
of,  verses  6,  8.  But  observe,  how  God  an- 
swers him.  '  Go  thou  thy  way  till  the  end 
be ;  for  thou  shalt  rest,  and  stand  in  thy  lot  at 
the  end  of  the  days.'  Thy  body  shall  rest  in 
the  grave ;  thy  soul,  in  heav^en.  As  if  he  had 
said.  Let  it  suffice  thee  it  siiall  be,  though  thou 
dost  not  live  to  see  it.  I  believe  God  hath 
great  things  to  do  in  the  world ;  perhaps, 
shortly,  in  the  destruciion  of  antichrist,  root 
and  branch,  and  the  advancement  of  the 
gospel-kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ.  Though  I 
may  not  live  to  see  it,  yet,  I  trust,  I  shall  rest 
with  that  good  man,  and  all  the  dear  mem- 
bers of  that  great  body,  and  stand  in  my  lot 
at  the  end  of  the  days,  in  the  resurrection  of 
the  just." 

"  1708,  January  11.  This  week  I  am  read- 
ing, in  course,  in  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews, 
wherein,  I  see  more  excellency  than  ever 
heretofore.  The  eighth  chapter  is  concerning 
the  everlasting  covenant.  I  will  make  a  new 
covenant.  The  Exposition  especially  ob- 
serves, that  pardon  of  sin  seems  to  be  the 
foundation  of  the  rest.     I  will  do  so  and  so, 


56  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

'  For  I  will  be  merciful  to  their  unrighteous- 
ness, and  their  sins  and  their  iniquities  will  I 
remember   no   more.'      And,    methinks,   the 
manner   of    the    expression    is    exceedingly 
sweet.     In  the   Old  Testament  it  used  to  be 
— '  If  they  will  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  do 
them,  and  be  obedient,   &c.,  then  I  will  be 
gracious.'     But,  here  are  no  ifs  and  ands;  I 
will  and  you  shall  is  the  language.     This  is 
indeed,  gospel,  good  news.     Enough  to  make 
one's  heart  leap  for  joy.     He  works  all  our 
works  in  us,  and  for  us.     Oh,  this  everlasting 
covenant  has  that  in  it  which  is  "  all  our  sal- 
vation, and  all  our  desire."    It  was  that  which 
my  dear  and  honoured  father  had  his  heart 
much  upon. 

"  In  the  ninth  chapter,  as  all  along,  he  is  pre- 
ferring the  gospel  before  the  law,  the  New 
Testament  before  the  Old.  But,  that  which 
most  affects  me  is  the  last  verse,  where,  speak- 
ing of  Christ's  second  coming,  the  true  saints 
are  described  to  be  such  as  look  for  him. 
This  the  wicked  do  nut.  They  would  be  glad 
if  he  would  never  come.  But  the  real  Chris- 
tian looks,  nay  longs,  for  his  coming.  As  the 
mother  of  Sisera.  '  Why  arc  his  chariot's 
wheels  so  long  in  coming  V  I  desire  to  be 
always  found  in  a  praying,  waiting   frame, 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  57 

and  in  the  way  of  my  duty,  because  he  will 
come  suddenly,  and  find  many  sleeping. 
Therelore,  Oh  my  soul,  watch.     Watcii." 

It  is  in  the  records  of  inspiration,  that  the 
Christian  beholds  wisdom  clad  in  her  love- 
liest attire,  and  finds  truth  "  unmixed  with 
error."  The  Scriptures  are  the  map  by  which 
he  travels  Zionward,  the  fountain,  by  whose 
streams  he  is  refreshed,  the  armory  from 
whence  his  spiritual  weapons  are  supplied. 
As  such  they  are  inexpressibly  precious.  But 
is  it  not  to  be  feared,  that  professions  of  ex- 
clusive attachment  to  revealed  truth,  are,  by 
some  persons,  converted  into  an  asylum  for 
sloth,  or  prejudice,  or  pride?  Despising  the 
usual  methods  of  instruction,  and  the  produc- 
tions of  all  uninspired  writers,  they  arrogate 
to  themselves  the  wisdom  which  must  be  de- 
rived from  reading  the  Bible  only.  Mrs. 
Savage,  however,  thought  otherwise,  and 
without  undervaluing  the  Bible,  highly  es- 
teemed the  pious  labours  of  good  men ;  es- 
pecially such  books  as  were  best  calculated 
to  strengthen  the  understanding,  to  quicken 
devotion,  and  excite  to  holiness.  A  Heine's 
Letters,  Polhill's  Precious  Faith,  the  works  of 
Owen,  Hopkins,  and  Howe,  Flavel,  Baxter, 
and  Watts,  with  other  writings  of  a  similar 


58  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

description,  were  the  subjects  of  patient  and 
regular  perusal.  She  delighted  much  in  bio- 
graphy, and  her  diary  manifests  the  interest 
with  which  she  read  Clarke's  Lives,  Mather's 
History  of  New  England,  and  the  Lives  of 
Mrs.  Bury,  Mrs.  Rowe,  Mrs.  Walker,  and 
Mr.  Reynolds.  She  likewise  transcribed 
several  manuscript  memoirs  for  the  use  of 
herself  and  her  family.  On  retiring  to  rest 
she  commonly  placed  good  books  near  the 
bedside,  to  prevent  an  unprofitable  employ- 
ment of  her  waking  thoughts. 

The  application  which  has  been  noticed 
was  not  instituted  to  equip  a  pedant,  or  to 
furnish  matter  merely  for  discourse ;  but  for 
personal  benefit,  and  to  subserve,  by  holy 
practice,  the  divine  glory.  "  Saturday  morn- 
ing," she  Myites,  "  I  was  refreshed  in  reading 
the  exposition  on  Ilosea  v.  14.  "  Tear,  and 
go  away ;  Though  God  tear,  yet  if  he  stay — 
if  he  tear,  and  tarry — there  is  some  hope  ;  but 
if  he  tear,  and  go  away,  'tis  sad  indeed.  Oh  the 
cheering,  comforting  influences  of  the  divine 
presence  1  *Tis  that  to  the  soul,  and  much  more, 
which  the  refreshing  dews  of  heaven  are  now 
to  the  thirsty  earth  which  is  parched  and  dry. 
In  the  evening  I  read  in  Mr.  Alleine's  Life  (that 
pattern  of  piety)  some  of  his  letters.     I  met 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  59 

with  many  heart-warming  expressions.  Per- 
suading to  preparedness  for  trials,  he  remarks. 
"  How  sad  is  it  with  them  that  are  called  to 
part  with  all  for  Christ,  and  arc  not  sure  of 
him  neither;"  "therefore,"  he  adds,  "what- 
ever you  do,  get,  and  keep,  your  evidences  for 
heaven  clear."  He  would  admire  the  mercy 
of  God  in  every  meal,  and  say  to  his  wife,  "I 
live  a  voluptuous  life,  but  it  is  upon  spiritual 
dainties,  such  as  the  world  know  not,  nor 
taste  of."  Another  saying,  "  When  I  look 
back  upon  the  gentle  dealings  of  God  with 
me,  I  often  think  he  has  brought  me  up  as  in- 
dulgently as  David  did  Adonijah,  of  whom  it 
is  said,  his  father  had  not  displeased  him.  I 
have  received  nothing  but  good  at  the  hands 
of  the  Lord  all  my  days."  The  same  may  I 
say.  What  a  good  master  have  I  served,  or 
rather,  a  tender,  indulgent  Father.  He  hath 
followed  me  with  mercies  all  my  days." 

She  made  extensive  and  useful  collections 
from  the  books  she  read,  and  by  writing  the 
sermons  she  heard  preached,  and  copying 
others  from  manuscripts  which  appear  to  have 
been  borrowed  for  the  purpose,  transmitted 
to  posterity  much  treasure.  She  did  not  re- 
pent the  toil.  Her  pleasure  in  perusing  such 
papers  has  already  been  hinted  at,  and  the 


GO  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

advantage  she  found  in  having  heard,  to  adopt 
her  revered  father's  expression,  "  for  the  time 
to  come,"  is  visible  in  almost  every  part  of 
her  diary.     Thus  she  wrote  in  the  year  1727: 
— "  Sabbath  day,  October  29.     We  read,  at 
noon,  a  good  old  sermon  of  my  dear  father's 
(as  long  since  as  January,  1687)  concerning 
those  things  that  pertain  to   godliness.     lie 
mentions  ten,  which,  he  said,  no  godly  per- 
son   is    without — 'Knowledge,    repentance, 
faith,  sincerity,  a  spirit  of  prayer,  love  to  the 
people  and  word  of  God,  public  spiritedness, 
mean  thoughts  of  the  world,  delight  in  Sab- 
bath sanctification.'    Lord,  let  these  things  be 
in  mc,  and  abound.    Methinks,  as  I  grow  old, 
I  haA^e  more  delight  and  sweetness  in  my  old 
sermon  notes,  and  often  think  of  those  who 
had  seen  the  old  temple ; — they  wept,  while 
others  rejoiced.     Yet,   I  heartily  bless  God 
for  the  gifts   and   abilities   of  our   younger 
ministers.     But  I  am  comforted  to  think  that 
I  have  not  now  my  foundation  to  lay.    I  had 
then  the  best  helps,  so  that  my  roots  were 
watered  with  wine." 

In  the  year  1750,  when  aged  86,  noticing 
a  sermon,  preached  by  her  honoured  father, 
on  Psalm  Ixxi.  17,  18,  "O  God,  thou  hast 
taught  me  from  my  youth,"  she  writes :  "  he 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  61 

gave  five  excellent  lessons  for  young  ones  • 
Remember  your  Creator,  Eccl.  xii.  1 ;  Come 
to  Jesus  Christ,  John  vi.  45 ;  Bear  the  yoke, 
J^ament.  iii.  27;  Flee  youthful  lusts,  2  Tim. 
ii.  22 ;  Cleanse  your  way,  Ps.  cxix.  9  ;  "  Bles- 
sed are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house."  There 
are  precious  promises,  sweet  ordinances,  rich 
graces  and  gifts,  choice  comforts  and  hopes, 
and  everlasting  joys  yet  behind." 

How  forcibly  does  the  preceding  exhibition 
commend  Christian  diligence !  When  it  is 
considered  how  high  a  station  industry  oc- 
cupies among  virtues,  how  honourably  it  is 
associated  in  Scripture,  and  how  closely  it  is 
allied  to  personal  comfort,  as  well  as  public 
advantage,  we  do  not  wonder  that  the  exam- 
}les  of  the  saints  are  proposed,  by  inspired 
wisdom,  as  a  stimulus  to  exertion.  "  Be 
not  slothful,  but  followers  of  them  who, 
through  faith  and  patience,  inherit  the  pro- 
mises." 

It  not  unfrequenfly  happens  that  young 
Christians,  either  from  the  overpowering 
splendour  of  newly-discovered  objects,  or 
from  a  mistaken  apprehension  that  God  is 
only  served  by  prayer  and  ])raise,  neglect 
their  temporal  avocations,  or  undervalue  the 
opportunities  afforded  by  common  duties  for 
6 


62  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

holy  obedience.  Too  often,  likewise,  they 
overlook  their  best  interests  by  omitting  to 
store  their  minds  with  Christian  knowledge, 
which,  however  painfully  acquired,  always 
affords  its  possessor  a  rich  remuneration. 
Though,  in  truth,  the  divine  glory  has  greater 
accessions  by  the  unwearied  industry,  patient 
submission,  and  habitual  self-denial  of  con- 
sistent believers,  than  by  the  highest  flights 
of  rapturous  devotion.  Be  diligent  in  busi- 
ness is  the  heavenly  oi'der  "  fervent  in  spirit, 
serving  the  Lord." 


SECTION  II. 
Her  Benevolence  and  Moderation, 

That  Mrs.  Savage  possessed  a  truly  bene- 
volent spirit,  and  was  actuated  in  works  of 
charity  by  pure  motives,  is  very  evident. 
Hear  her  language:  "I  find  the  duty  of 
giving,  hard  to  manage  aright — to  keep  the 
eye  single.  I  find  it  much  easier  to  draw 
out  the  hand  to  the  hungry,  than  to  draw 
forth  the  soul  in  inward  compassion.     O  this 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  63 

inside  of  duty  is  that  which  I  find  so  very 
hard." 

She  did  not  act  upon  the  antichristian  prin- 
ciple, that  heaven  is  to  be  merited  by  chari- 
table deeds.  She  had  been  better  taught. 
"  As  the  elect  of  God,  holy  and  beloved,"  she 
"  put  on  bowels  of  mercy,"  well  knowing  how 
peculiarly  a  kind  and  benevolent  spirit  adorns 
the  gospel.  Indeed,  if  heaven  is  the  reward 
of  alms-deeds,  how  can  the  poor  who  have 
every  thing  to  receive — nothing  to  bestow — 
hope  for  a  place  in  glory  1  How  different  the 
language  of  revelation !  "  By  grace  are  ye 
saved,  through  faith :  and  that  not  of  your- 
selves, it  is  the  gift  of  God,  not  of  ivorks,  lest 
any  man  should  boast." — "  Hearken,  my  be- 
loved brethren,  hath  not  God  chosen  the  poor 
of  this  world  rich  in  faith,  and  heirs  of  the 
kingdom  which  he  hath  promised  to  them 
that  love  him  ?" 

There  was  nothing  forced,  in  her  benefi- 
cence. It  was  truly  divine.  "Providence," 
she  remarks,  "having  placed  me  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  table,  I  have  dealt  out  with  a  libe- 
ral hand."  This  part  of  her  character  has 
been  thus  recorded  by  one  of  her  family. 
"  The  pleasure  with  which  she  gave  alms,  or 
did  any  other  good  office  to  the  poor,  or  dis- 


64  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

tressed,  is  not  to  be  described.  She  willingly 
employed  herself  in  making  garments  tor 
their  clothing.  She  always  spoke  of  the 
plenty  of  a  farm-house  as  one  of  the  chief  ad- 
vantages of  her  station,  that  it  allowed  her 
greater  opportunities  of  supplying  the  wants 
of  the  poor,  and  feeding  the  hungry,  which 
she  always  did  with  her  ow'n  hands.  She 
was  often  observed  to  be  most  cheerful  those 
days  wherein  she  had  been  most  called  on 
for  such  charity. 

Moderation  too,  eminently  distinguished 
this  excellent  woman.  After  her  marriage 
she  was  deprived  of  those  opportunities  for 
public  worship  which,  from  infancy,  she  had 
enjoyed.  The  nearest  house  of  prayer  was 
the  parish  church,  to  which,  though  a  dis- 
senter from  principle,  she,  on  the  Lord's  day, 
statedly  resorted,  but  on  sacrament  days  she 
usually  travelled  to  Broad  Oak,  or  Nantwich; 
the  former  about  eight,  the  latter  about  five 
miles  distant. 

Without  relaxing  in  her  attachment  to  the 
mode  of  worship  adopted  by  dissenters,  or  at 
all  shrinking  from  an  avowal  of  it,  she  em- 
braced every  proper  opportunity  of  testifying 
her  respect  for  the  established  clergy,  and 
strengthening  their  hands  in  their  important 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  65 

labours.  On  one  occasion  she  writes,  "  Our 
minister  takes  a  great  deal  of  pains  in  cate- 
chizing (Sabbath  noon).  I  send  mine  to  iiim 
for  example's  sake,  for  I  take  the  Assembly's 
Catechism,  which  they  have  learned,  to  be 
much  better  than  that  the  church  of  England 
appoints ;  but  I  find  he  joins  some  useful  in- 
structions, and  I  hope  some  of  them  may  re- 
main. To-day  he  exhorted  them  to  the  great 
duty  of  secret  prayer.  Lord,  set  in,  and 
speak  to  their  hearts,  that  all  pious  endea- 
vours this  way  may  meet  with  their  desired 
success." 

There  are  individuals  who  may  be  ready 
to  censure  her  conduct,  and  almost  suspect 
her  sincerity.  To  such  I  would  present  the 
following  extract  from  her  diary.  "  1703, 
Aug.  15. — In  the  morning  I  had  refreshment 
by  reading  Psalm  cxxxix.,  concerning  God's 
omniscience — "  Searched  me  and  known  me :" 
— very  comfortable  as  to  the  censures  of  men, 
and  suitable  to  me  as  to  our  non-conformity. 
Some  accuse  of  singularity,  and  hypocrisy, 
in  my  conformity.  Thou  hast  seen  and  search- 
ed, and  knowest  my  heart  in  that  matter — 
that  it  is  right  with  thee.  As  my  dear  father 
thus  expresses  it — '  I  am  censured  by  some 
for  conforming  so  far ;  by  others  for  doing  it 
6* 


66  MEMOIES    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

no  further.  Which  shall  I  seek  to  please  ? 
Neither.  But  thee,  O  heavenly  Father,  who 
seest  in  secret.' — Reading  this  week  in  the 
book  of  Job,  and  observing  the  speeches  of 
his  friends,  how  savourily  and  piously  they 
speak  in  some  things,  and  yet  how  much  mis- 
applied to  Job ;  and  that  though  they  often 
said  the  same  to  him,  yet  there  was  great  want 
of  that  candour  and  tenderness  which  his  case 
required  ;  methinks,  I  could  not  but  have  these 
reflections.  Why  should  I  think  it  strange 
that  it  should  be  so  now?  Good  men  diflcr 
in  their  sentiments,  not  understanding  each 
other's  meaning.  I  believe  there  are  many 
wise  and  holy  men  of  the  Episcopal,  as  well 
as  the  Presbyterian,  persuasion.  If  we  could 
all  walk  humbly  and  piously  with  God  ac- 
cording to  the  light  we  have,  and  charitably 
believe  that  others  do  so  too,  this,  I  think, 
would  heal  us.  IIow  comfortable  is  the  ap- 
peal— He  knoweth  the  way  that  I  take." 

Her  papers  contain  frequent  extracts  from 
the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  with  special 
observation  of  many  admirable  petitions,  and 
their  suitableness  to  her  own  circumstances. 

Indeed  her  religion  did  not  consist  in  cavil- 
ling, nor  in  a  tedious,  invective  spirit.  Divine 
love  having  occupied  her  soul,  there  was  no 


MEMOinS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  67 

place  for  illibcrality  and  prejudice.  Though 
she  possessed  an  ardour  of  intellect  by  no 
means  common,  it  ^vas  not  exercised  in  con- 
temning others.  Nor  did  the  extensive  know- 
ledge she  had  acquired  by  reading,  and  medi- 
tation, and  a  long  acquaintance  with  the 
world,  afford,  in  her  judgment,  any  reason  for 
despising  those  who  differed  from  her.  She 
was  convinced  that — "  to  agree  in  our  senti- 
ments as  to  every  point  of  doctrine  or  dis- 
cipline, or  as  to  the  authority  or  expediency 
of  every  rite  of  worship  that  may  be  in  ques- 
tion, is  absolutely  impossible.  The  best  of  men 
difler,  their  understandings  differ;  various 
associations  have  been  accidentally  formed, 
and  diflerent  principles  have  been  innocently, 
and  perhaps  devoutly  admitted,  which,  even 
in  a  course  of  just  and  sensible  reasoning, 
must  necessarily  lead  to  diflerent  conclu- 
sions."* 

On  one  occasion  she  manifests  her  grief  at 
the  conduct  of  a  clergyman  who,  in  her 
opinion,  had  discovered  a  different  spirit ; 
and  under  the  obvious  influence  of  a  love 
of  moderation,  combined  with  sacred  fidelity, 
she  addressed  to  him  the  following  letter.    It 

•  Doddridge's  Sermon  on  Christian  candour. 


G8  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

is  known  to  have  been  candidly  received, 
and  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  tlie  gentleman 
less  esteemed  the  writer. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"  I  have  long  desired  an  opportunity  of  con- 
versing with  you,  and  I  know  not  how  to  ex- 
cuse my  doing  thus,  since  you  are  so  oblig- 
ing and  easy  of  access,  but  only  for  privacy, 
especially  as  it  becomes  such  as  I  in  silence  to 
learn.  Yet,  we  are  also  commanded  to  be 
ready  to  give  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in 
us,  with  meekness  and  fear.  Therefore,  you 
M  ill  pardon  my  boldness  in  thus  expressing 
my  thoughts.  Women's  tongues  and  pens, 
sometimes  claim  a  freedom,  which  men,  who 
are  more  wise  and  reserved,  will  not  use.  It 
is  (or  may  be  thought)  our  unhappiness  to 
differ  from  the  Established  Church  in  some 
lesser  things,  but  while  we  agree  in  funda- 
mentals, why  should  there  be,  among  us,  strife 
and  envying? 

"  The  high  charge  we  had  yesterday  from 
you,  of  devilish  pride,  arrogance,  &c.,  I  can- 
not account  light,  especially  from  one  who 
should  stand  in  the  place  of  God,  to  guide  and 
direct  us  in  the  way  to  heaven.  I  think  it 
invidious  to  judge  men's  hearts,  which  none 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  09 

but  God  can  do.  It  cannot  be  in  itself  sinful 
to  dissent  from  the  church,  else  why  did  we 
cast  off' the  yoke  of  Rome  1 

"  F'or  my  own  part — I  freely  profess  that 
I  have  seen  so  much  sincere  piety,  fervent 
charity,  and  humility  practised  in  those  I  have 
joined  with,  and  found  such  solid  peace  and 
tranquillity  in  this  way  I  have  walked  in, 
that,  I  trust,  I  shall  never  be  either  allured, 
or  affrighted,  from  it.  Tlie  name  of  schism 
(that  ecclesiastical  scarecrow)  is  industriously, 
though  falsely,  thrown  on  us,  as  I  have  seen 
proved.  But  if  it  were  true — who  is  in  the 
fault  1  The  imposers  of  things  which  them- 
selves own  to  be  unnecessary — or  we  who 
dare  not  comply  with  them,  yet  are  desirous 
to  sacrifice  any  thing  to  peace,  but  truth  ?  I 
must  say,  as  any  unprejudiced  person  will,  that 
if  the  nonconformists  are  mistaken,  they  are 
the  most  unhappy  to  exclude  themselves  from 
all  that  is  desirable  in  the  world,  and  expose 
themselves  to  poverty,  scorn,  and  hatred.  I 
must  do  them  that  justice  to  tell  you,  I  never  re- 
member to  have  heard  one  public  reflection 
from  any  of  them  upon  the  established  church. 
I  need  not  here  enter  into  the  merits  of  their 
cause,  which  hath  so  many  better  advocates; 
onlv  I  must  take  the  freedom  to  express  my 


70  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

resentments  tliat  we  have,  sometimes,  from 
your  pulpit,  such  keen  reflections  as  wc  can- 
not bear,  and  as,  I  am  sure,  do  no  real  good 
to  any  one.  The  great  things  of  the  Gospel 
— faith  in  Christ — repentance  unto  life — and 
new  obedience — these  are  enough  to  spend 
our  zeal  about,  as  a  worthy  person  writes. 
Our  lives  are  short,  our  work  great,  our 
souls  precious,  heaven  and  hell  real  things, 
and  all  that  must  be  done  for  eternity  must  be 
done  quickly,  or  it  will  be  too  late.  There- 
fore, I  am  always  glad  to  hear  ministers  insist 
on  these  great  things.  I  was  much  affected, 
many  years  ago,  with  a  sermon  I  wrote  from 
you  on  those  words — '  Purifying  to  himself  a 
peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good  works.'  1 
wish  you  would  preach,  and  pray,  as  you  did 
then;  yet,  good  sir,  excuse  my  freedom  in 
thus  giving  vent  to  my  thoughts.  I  think  there 
is  no  family  but  ours  in  the  parish  that  are 
accounted  dissenters ;  yet,  you  know,  we  are 
as  true  friends  to  you,  and  the  church,  as  any 
in  the  parish,  perhaps  more  than  many  who 
profess  to  be  entire  members  of  the  church  of 
England.  As  many  of  our  family  attend  the 
ministry  as  most,  or  any  of  the  like  number; 
and  it  is  to  me  sad  that  we  should  be  censured, 
and  worse  thought  of  tiian  they,  than  hund- 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  71 

reds  who  absent  themselves  through  ignorance 
and  carelessness.  It  is  \veli  we  are  not  to  be 
each  other's  judges. 

"  Said  my  honoured  fother,  when  dying 
— '  Follow  peace,  and  holiness,  and  let 
them  say  what  they  will'  This  has  been 
my  sincere  desire  and  endeavour.  And  I 
solemnly  profess,  I  have  not  at  all  endea- 
voured to  draw  my  children  into  the  same 
w^ay,  otherwise  than  what  my  example  might 
do,  though  some  of  them  have  taken  pains 
to  study  those  points,  and  are  not  Presby- 
terians by  chance,  but  of  choice ;  for  I  de- 
sire they  may  not  pin  their  faith  to  my  sleeve, 
but  choose  for  themselves,  and,  if  they  take 
this  despised  way,  it  is  not  because  they  know 
no  other,  but  because  they  know  no  better. 

"  I  have  heard  divers  complain  that  you 
speak  so  low,  they  can  scarce  hear  you,  but 
I  observed  yesterday  you  could  raise  your 
voice.  If  I  had  foreseen  our  treatment,  I  be- 
lieve my  place  had  been  empty.  I  know  not 
how  they  will  answer  it  who  beat  their  fellow- 
servants,  and  cast  stones  instead  of  bread.  I 
know  not  what  the  Church  would  have — 
they  have  all  the  profits,  preferments,  and  ad- 
vantages they  can  desire,  yet  because  our 
governors  take  off  the  power  to  persecute,  it 


72  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

avails  nothing.  But  I  am  quite  too  tedious, 
and  I  crave  your  pardon,  sir,  a  thousand 
times,  for  my  freedom  with  you.  I  truly  re- 
spect your  person  and  ministry,  and  pray  for 
its  success.  I  am  satislicd  you  well  know 
the  great  value  of  all  souls,  and  the  danger 
of  most.  This  thought  will  quicken  you  to 
cry  aloud,  and  show  your  hearers  their  sin 
and  duty  before  it  be  too  late.  What  a 
blessed  place  is  iicaven,  where  there  will  be 
no  divisions,  or  disturbances,  for  ever !  To 
which  glory  He  brings  us  who  hath  most 
dearly  bought  us  with  the  inestimable  price 
of  his  own  blood.     Amen." 

Monday,  January  14,  1716 — 17. 

Though  she  entertained  the  highest  regard 
and  veneration  for  her  truly  eminent  father, 
and  other  divines  his  contemporaries,  in  whom 
was  concentrated  almost  every  valuable  at- 
tainment, she  did  not  despise  their  successors, 
^he  rejoiced  in  the  gifts,  graces,  and  success 
of  all  who  exalted  the  Redeemer,  and  invited 
sinners  to  his  throne. 

Early  indications  of  piety  and  ability  she 
diligently  cherished,  and,  by  an  amiable  can- 
dour, animated  and  encouraged  the  diffident 
and  humble.     She  was,  indeed,  a  "  mother  in 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  73 

Israel,''  and  her  "  moderation  was  known," 
After  hearing  a  sermon  at  Wrenbury  Church, 
on  Titus  ii.  14,  "  Zealous  of  good  works" — 
she  writes — "  O  that  I  may  learn  to  be  always 
zealous  in  a  good  thing,  and  remember  my 
dear  father's  rule — '  In  those  things  that  all 
the  people  of  God  are  agreed,  to  spend  my 
zeal ;  and  as  for  other  things  about  which  they 
differ,  to  walk  according  to  the  light  God  has 
given  me,  and  charitably  to  believe  others  do 
so  too.'  I  desire  not  to  be  zealous  as  to  these 
smaller  matters ;  and,  methinks,  I  find  as  I 
grow  in  years  that  I  am  in  my  judgment  more 
catholic,  and  would  not  do  any  thing  to  in- 
crease differences,  but  rather,  what  I  can  to 
heal.  Lord,  when  shall  it  be  1  This  balm, 
this  healing  balm,  'tis  only  with  thee.  O  pour, 
pour  of  it  on  us." 

This  Christian  virtue  appeared  equally 
conspicuous  in  her  use  of  temporal  enjoy- 
ments. Prosperity  did  not  elevate  her.  Nor 
was  she  dejected  by  adverse  events.  When 
her  husband  was  robbed  of  a  considerable 
sum  of  money,  she  calmly  remarked,  as  she 
had  done  on  other  occasions, — "  Well,  it 
should  stir  us  up  to  secure  that  treasure  which 
none  can  take  away  from  us." 
7 


74  MEMOIRS    OP    MRS.    SAVAGE. 


SECTION  III. 

Her  Zeal  and  Public  Spirit. 

Pharisees  arc  notorious  for  spending  their 
zeal  about  lesser  matters,  while  the  greater 
are  neglected.  Not  so  Mrs.  Savage.  With 
a  truly  apostolic  fervour  she  aimed  to  over- 
throw the  dominion  of  Satan,  to  obtain  a  large 
increase  of  grace,  and,  by  her  prayers,  her 
example,  and  her  correspondence,  to  promote 
the  worship  of  God,  and  the  interests  of  the 
Messiah's  kingdom. 

She  diligently  cherished  a  zealous  spirit, 
and  rejoiced  in  all  attempts  to  do  good.  On 
one  occasion  she  writes,  "  Sabbath,  July  10. 
Dear  brother's  subject  was  Galatians  iv.  18. 
♦  It  is  good  to  be  zealously  aflected  always  in 
a  good  thing.'  The  things  of  God  and  reli- 
gion are  good  things,  the  best  things.  It  is  a 
good  thing  to  draw  near  to  God;  to  keep  far 
off  from  sin;  to  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord; 
to  bear  the  yoke ;  to  do  good  in  our  places  to 
others;  to  hope  and  quietly  to  wait  for  the 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  75 

salvation  of  tlie  Lord.  These  things  I  should 
be  zealous  for.  My  affections  and  actions 
should  be  zealous,  and  vigorous  against  sin, 
in  desires  after  God.  I  should  be  forward  to 
good  works,  fervent  in  s})irit,  serving  the 
Lord ;  diligent  in  doing,  daring  and  bold  in 
suffering." 

Some  time  afterwards,  on  perusing  the  ser- 
mon just  mentioned,  she  thus  expresses  her- 
self: "I  remember  my  fauUs,  particularly 
lukewarmness,  in  opposition  to  this  holy  zeal. 
I  am  afraid  lest,  sometimes,  that  which,  at 
first,  looks  like  meekness,  prove  a  fault.  By 
being  too  mild  for  a  fault  the  glory  of  God 
suffers.  We  ought,  indeed,  to  be  as  lambs  in 
our  own  cause,  but  as  lions  in  the  eause  of 
God.  It  is  a  scripture  comparison,  '  the 
righteous  are  bold  as  a  lion.'  I  see  great 
need  every  day  of  the  wisdom  which  is  from 
above." 

At  another  time  she  writes — "  Wednesday. 
Dear  brother  preached  the  lecture  (at  Broad 
Oak)  from  Heb.  iv.  12,  The  word  of  God  is 
sharper  than  a  two-edged  sword.  The  word 
is  a  weapon  in  the  hands  of  Christians,  and 
in  the  hand  of  Christ.  Lord,  direct,  and  teach 
me  how  to  use  this  weapon.  Let  the  word 
which  I  heard  last  Sabbath  be  as  a  sword  to 


76  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  j^fL. 

pierce,  and  kill  my  lukewarmncss  and  want 
(if  zeal.  And  prosper,  O  Lord,  the  sword  in 
the  mouth  of  Christ — the  everlasting  gospel 
in  the  mouths  of  thy  dear  ministers — that  the 
kingdom  of  Satan  may  fall  before  it  like 
lightning  from  heaven.  I  cannot  but  rejoice 
in  the  endeavours  which  arc  on  foot  in  many 
places  in  this  nation,  for  suppressing  profane- 
ness,  the  Societies  for  Reformation  of  Man- 
ners. We  see  there  is  great  need  of  some  to 
stem  the  tide.  God  in  mercy  own  them,  and 
hear  the  prayer  of  the  royal  Psalmist,  O  let 
the  wickedness  of  the  wicked  come  to  an 
end.     Amen.     So  be  it." 

It  was  a  source  of  peculiar  gratification 
that  her  husband,  soon  after  his  marriage, 
united  with  her  in  attempting  the  spiritual 
benefit  of  their  neighbours.  A  lecture  was 
instituted  at  their  house,  and  many  excellent 
ministers  alternately  travelled  thither  to  pub- 
lish the  everlasting  gospel.  The  commence- 
ment of  this  work  of  love  is  thus  noticed: 
«'  1087.  Thursday,  September  8.  We  had 
the  first  meeting  in  our  house  at  Wrenbury 
Wood.  Blessed  be  God,  that  has  trusted  us 
with  a  house  to  emjiloy  for  him,  which  I 
therefore  think  the  better  of.  Dear  brother 
preached   from    Revelations   iii.   17.     Pretty 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  77 

manv  hearers.  I  begged  of  God  that  it  may- 
be said  of  our  poor  house,  that  this  or  that 
man  or  woman  was  born  again  there." 

"It  often  pities  me,"  she  writes  on  another 
occasion,  "  to  think  of  the  state  of  some  of 
my  neighbours.  They  are  well  inchned,  have 
good  principles  of  moral  honesty  and  sobriety, 
yet,  I  have  great  reason  to  fear,  they  are 
strangers  to  a  saving  change,  and  dying  so, 
will  be  for  ever  miserable.  Oh  that  it  would 
please  God  to  call  them  effectually  to  himself. 
I  know  the  Father  of  spirits  is  infinite  in 
compassion,  and  knows  what  is  best;  but 
how  would  it  rejoice  my  heart  to  see  con- 
verting work  go  forward  among  us." 

The  lively  feelings  of  her  spirit,  and  the 
pious  ardour  of  her  desires  for  the  prosperity 
of  Zion,  are  manifest  from  the  following  mem- 
orandum, dated  1G96.  "  A  meeting  of  non- 
conformist ministers  appointed  August  11,  to 
be  at  Chester.  The  eternal  God  himself  meet 
and  bless,  direct  and  succeed  them  in  all  their 
ways !  They  used  to  meet  at  Knutsford,  but 
appointed  it  now  at  Chester,  to  be  nearer 
my  dear  father,  who  was  designed  to  be  there, 
and  to  preach,  it  being  so  ordered  by  them  at 
the  last  meeting.  But  God  has  seen  good  to 
break  their  measures,  and  hath  taken  him  to 
7* 


78  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

the  "  general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first- 
born," to  be  with  the  "  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect."  Should  I  not  rejoice  in  hope  that 
I  am  on  my  way  to  this  happy  end ;  like 
poor  Gideon — faint  yet  pursuing — faint  yet 
pursuing !" 

"  This  day,  viz.,  Tuesday,  August  11th,  my 
husband  went  early  to  Chester.  He  was  pres- 
ent in  that  sweet  assembly.  There  were 
twenty-six  ministers.  A  lovely  sight  to  see 
so  many  together,  who  are  messengers  of 
churches,  and  the  glory  of  Christ,  let  men  say 
what  they  will.  But  for  our  late  disappoint- 
ment it  would  have  been  too  much  like  heav- 
en. Alas  !  we  must  not  set  up  our  staff  here. 
This  is  not  our  rest.  In  the  evening  he  re- 
turned— much  affected  with  the  sight  of  so 
many  worthy  men  together.  The  sermon 
was  preached  by  Mr.  Owen,  the  same  that 
preached  my  dear  father's  funeral  discourse. 
An  excellent  sermon  from  2  Cor.  vi.  1. — "  We 
then  as  workers  together  witli  him,  beseech 
you  also  that  ye  receive  not  the  grace  of  God 
in  vain.  Concerning  the  dignity  and  duty  of 
gospel  ministers:  one  says,  they  were  affected 
at  the  meeting  much  as  they  were  at  the  build- 
ing of  the  second  temple — weeping  and  re- 
joicing.    0  Lord,  hear  prayer,  and  pour  out 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  79 

of  the  Spirit.  Where  is  the  Lord  God  of  Eli- 
jah 1 — It  is  comfortable  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  same,  the  same  to  his  ministers  now  that  he 
was  formerly,  if  they  cleave  faithfully  to  him, 
even  to  old  age — to  the  old  age  of  the  church. 
•I  am  in-:.'  I  am  he  that  I  used  to  be — he  that 
my  people  have  found  me.  Faithful  is  he  that 
hath  promised  who  also  will  do  it ;  viz.,  all 
that  we  can  ask  or  think,  and  more,  if  for 
our  good." 

In  all  public  events  she  felt  a  lively  interest. 
She  was  a  loyal  subject,  and,  in  the  spirit  of 
true  Christianity,  was  ever  anxious  for  the  wel- 
fare of  her  country.  She  rejoiced  in  its  defence 
and  prosperity. 

The  year  1690  is  memorable  for  King 
William's  (of  glorious  memory)  expedition 
against  Ireland,  and  the  battle  he  gained  at 
the  Boyne.  His  progress  through  Shropshire 
and  Cheshire,  on  his  way  thither,  is  thus  pre- 
served by  Mrs.  Savage.  "  Friday,  June  Gth, 
King  William  came  to  Whitchurch  in  his 
way  to  Ireland.  He  lay  that  night  at  Com- 
bermere  ;  thence,  next  day,  to  Peel,  to  Col- 
onel Whitley's  ;  thence,  on  Sabbath  day,  to 
Chester ;  thence,  to  Hoylake  to  take  ship.  I 
have  earnestly  begged  of  God  that  his  blessing 
may  go  along  with  him." 


80  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

"  Monday,  July  7th.  It  pleased  God  to 
send  good  tidings.  Tlic  king  iiimsclf  in 
great  danger ;  he  escaped  with  a  slight 
\vound.  Our  general  killed,  and  many  more ; 
yet  it  pleased  God  to  give  victory  to  the 
Protestant  forces,  so  that  on  Thursday,  July 
3d,  the  king  entered  Dublin,  which  King 
James  hath  quit,  not  being  able  to  make  any 
resistance.  An  instance  to  me  of  the  truth 
of  that  sweet  Scripture — Psalm  Ixvi.  12,  '  he 
cuts  (Hebrew,  slips)  ofl'  the  spirit  of  princes,' 
as  easily  as  we  do  a  flower.  News  from  the 
navy  at  sea  not  so  good,  the  admiral  proving 
treacherous.*  I  trust  God  will  shew  himself 
there  as  he  has  done  by  land.  Is  he  '  the  God 
of  the  hills  only,  and  not  of  the  valleys  also  1 ' 

The  death  of  the  great  monarch  first  named 
is  thus  noticed.  "  1702,  March  8th,  a  little 
before  eight  in  the  morning,  our  good  King 
William  submitted  to  the  stroke  of  death, 
after  a  fortnight's  illness,  occasioned,  at  first, 
by  a  fall  from  his  horse.  He  is  taken  away 
in  the  midst  of  usefulness ;  about  fifty  years 
old  ;  much  lamented,  and  deservedly,  God 
having  made  him  a  useful  instrument  of  much 

•  The  Earl  of  Torrington.  lie  was  aftcn\-ards  tried  by  a 
Court  Martial,  and  acquitted. — Burnet's  Own  Time,  vol. 
jv.  75,  &c. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  81 

good  to  US  for  thirteen  years.  I  wish  we 
could  learn  not  to  trust  in  an  arm  of  flesh,  but 
to  take  Christ  for  our  King,  who  ever  Uves  to 
subdue  his  and  our  enemies." 

In  the  same  year  "  a  bill  was  brought  into 
Parliament  by  the  Tories,  against  occasional 
conformity,  which  produced  great  and  long 
debates.  By  this  bill,  all  those  who  took  the 
Sacrament  and  Test,  and  did  afterwards  go 
to  the  meetings  of  the  Dissenters,  or  any 
meeting  for  religious  worship  that  was  not 
according  to  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of 
England,  where  five  persons  were  present 
more  than  the  family,  were  disabled  from 
holding  their  employments,  and  were  to 
be  fined  in  a  hundred  pounds,  and  in  five 
pounds  a  day  for  every  day  in  which  they 
continued  to  act  in  their  employments,  after 
their  having  been  at  any  such  meeting :  they 
were  also  made  incapable  to  hold  any  other 
employment,  till  after  one  whole  year's  con- 
formity to  the  church,  which  was  to  be  pro- 
ved at  the  Quarter  Session  ;  upon  a  relapse, 
the  penalty  and  the  time  of  incapacity  were 
doubled  :  no  limitation  of  time  was  put  in  the 
bill,  nor  of  the  way  in  which  the  oflence  was 
to  be  proved ;  but  whereas  the  act  of  the 
Test  only  included  the  magistrates  in  corpo- 


82  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

rations,  all  the  inferior  officers  or  freemen  in 
corporations  who  were  found  to  have  some 
interest  in  the  elections,  were  now  compre- 
hended within  this  bill.  The  preamble  of  the 
bill  asserted  tiie  toleration,  and  condemned 
all  persecution  for  conscience  sake,  in  a  high 
strain."  * 

The  attempt,  however,  failed,  to  the  great 
satisfaction  of  Dissenters,  whose  fears  as  to 
the  event  had,  while  the  bill  was  pending, 
risen  high.  On  its  rejection  by  the  House  of 
Lords,  Mrs.  Savage  observed — "  Our  com- 
fort is,  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigns. 
Methinks  I  see  great  reason  to  fear  lest  God 
hath  a  controversy  with  the  professors  of  our 
time  for  our  conformity  to  the  world.  How 
unlike  the  plain  old  Puritans !  Lord  help  me 
to  begin  at  home   in  humbling  of  my  own 


•  Burnet's  History  of  his  Own  Time,  vol.  v.  p.  119.  The  bill 
itself,  with  the  Debates  in  both  Houses,  may  be  seen  in  the 
Parliamentary  History  of  England,  vol.  vi.  pp.  59,  15^!,  and  359. 

Bishop  Burnet,  who  argued  at  length  against  the  bill, 
believing  it  would  necr.ssarily  strike  at  the  Toleration  Act,  ob- 
served of  the  preamble — that  it  put  him  in  mind  "  of  a  clause 
in  the  sentence  of  the  inquisitors ;  when  an  heretic  is  con- 
demned, and  delivered  to  the  secular  arm,  they  conjure  the 
magistrate  by  the  mercies  of  God,  and  the  bowels  of  Jesua 
Christ,  that  no  harm  be  done  to  the  obstinate  heretic,  neither 
in  life,  nor  limb;  but  all  this,  said  he,  is  but  a  farce,  for  he  is  to 
be  burnt  immediately."    Parliamentary  liistory,  voL  vi.  p.  16L 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  83 

soul :  and  oh  ! — that  God  would  be  entreated, 
and  leave  a  blessing  behind." 

At  a  time  of  anxious  expectation  as  to  the 
issue  of  a  threatened  invasion  by  the  French, 
she  writes,  "  What  will  be  the  end  we  know 
not.  The  truth  is,  we  are  a  sinful  nation.  The 
profaneness  of  some,  the  coldness  and  luke- 
warmness  of  others,  may  justly  provoke  God 
to  give  us  up  to  the  will  of  our  enemies.  Yet 
we  hope  there  are  thousands  among  us  run- 
ning into  the  breach,  and  crying  mightily  on 
behalf  of  these  nations.  I  have  been  of  late 
sometimes  afraid  lest  wise  and  good  men 
among  us  have  too  much  pleased  themselves 
with  our  being  called  Great  Britain ;  and,  it 
may  be,  God  will  make  us  see  that  our  strength 
is  not  in  ourselves,  but  in  him  only." 

She  diligently  and  conscientiously  observed 
fasts,  both  congregational  and  appointed  by 
authority.  The  following  extracts  manifest  a 
delight  in  spiritual  worship,  and  a  fervency  in 
ministerial  labours,  not  often  surpassed. 

"June  18th.  My  dear,  and  self,  and  my 
little  girl,  went  to  Broad  Oak ;  it  being  the 
third  Wednesday,  was  the  fast,  which  my 
dear  father  was  enabled,  by  divine  assistance, 
to  carry  on  from  nine  till  four  in  praying, 
singing,  preaching,  and  expounding.     A  sweet 


84  MEMOIRS    OF    MliS.    SAVAGE. 

opportunity  it  was,  wherein  my  soul  certain- 
ly had  communion  with  God,  who  was  pleas- 
ed so  to  answer  my  prayers  as  to  keep  me 
from  drowsiness  all  the  time,  which  I  reckon 
a  great  mercy." 

"  1692.  June  8th. — Wednesday  the  public 
fast.  I  W'cnt  to  Broad  Oak.  Took  my  two 
little  girls  with  me.  Dear  father  preached 
from  Gen.  xlii.  21 — 'guilty  concerning  our  bro- 
ther.'    He  insisted  on  three  points : 

1.  The  office  of  conscience.  I  bless  God 
for  any  tenderness  of  this  kind — that  I  have 
that  within  me  which  will  smite  when  I  do 
amiss.  I  bless  God  for  such  a  deputy  with  all 
my  heart. 

2.  The  benefit  of  affliction.  Till  Joseph's 
brethren  were  in  trouble  they  thought  not  of 
their  sin.  Sanctified  affiictions  are  spiritual 
promotions.     But 

3.  That  chiefly  insisted  on,  was  the  guilt 
■we  all  lie  under  concerning  our  brother. 
Both  omissions  and  commissions  laid  open  in 
many  particulars.  Here  I  must  lay  a  guilty 
hand  on  a  more  guilty  heart,  and  cry,  I  am 
verily  guilty  concerning  my  brother.  What 
relation  have  I  filled  up  as  I  ought  !  Father, 
forgive. 

"  It  pleased  God  to  abate  the  pleasure  I 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.  SAVAGE.  85 

should  have  had  now  in  being  here,  by  lay- 
ing his  hand  on  my  iathcr,  afflicting  him  with 
lameness,  and  much  pain  on  his  bed.  Weari- 
some nights  appointed  him ;  full  of  the  graces 
of  God's  Spirit,  iiumility,  patience,  resigna- 
tion ;  especially,  full  of  the  sermons  he  had 
lately  preached  concerning  Christ :  what  he 
is  to  believers  in  forty  particulars.*  He  said 
he  never  had  so  much  comfort  in  the  reflec- 
tion upon  any  subject  as  this.  Notwithstand- 
ing his  illness  he  went  on  Sabbath,  June  12, 
limping  to  the  pulpit,  where,  indeed,  his  delight 
is,  and  preached,  expounded,  and  catechized 
as  usual,  being  strengthened  with  strength 
from  above.  Still  he  goes  on  to  preach  Christ 
from  Phil.  iii.  7 — 10.  "  But  what  things  were 
gain  to  me,"  &c.  Christ.  Christ.  In  com- 
parison with  him  all  is  nothing.  Lord,  teach 
me  this  good  lesson.     Still  my  father  is  much 

*  These  sermons  are  in  the  best  style  of  their  admired  author, 
The  subjects,  with  an  appropriate  text  to  each,  are  as  follows: 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  considered,  in  relation  to  his  people, 
as  their  Foundation — Food — Root — Raiment — Head — Hope — 
Refuge— Righteousness — Light— Life — Peace — Passover— Por- 
tion—Propitiation  —  Freedom  — Fountain  — Wisdom  — Way — 
Ensign  —  Example  —  Door  —  Dew — Sun — Shield— Strength — 
Song — Horn — Honour — Sanctification— Supply — Resurrection 
—Redemption— Lesson  —  Ladder— Truth-Treasure-Tcmple 
—Ark— All.  [Republished  by  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publi- 
cation.] 

8 


8&  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

afflicted  with  pain.  The  use  I  would  make 
is  to  be  myself  preparing  for  the  like.  If  this 
be  done  in  the  green  tree,  if  he  be  so  afflicted 
who  has  done  so  much  and  been  so  long  a 
faithful  labourer  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  wiiat 
must  I  expect,  who  have  been  cumbering  the 
ground  ? " 

The  annual  return  of  Nov.  5th,  served  to 
excite  fresh  emotions  of  thankfulness  for  the 
signal  deliverance  of  England  from  ungodly 
machinations.  Nor  was  her  observance  of 
the  day  a  mere  formal  recollection  of  the 
treason.  Her  very  soul  was  lifted  up  to  the 
great  Deliverer.  Iler  devout  father,  and  other 
excellent  ministers,  commemorated  the  event, 
annually,  by  a  sermon  adapted  to  the  occa- 
sion. The  returns  of  these  opportunities  were 
highly  prized.  In  1724,  she  writes  :  "  Nov.  5. 
The  return  of  the  year  should  excite  our 
thankfulness  for  national  mercies.  Yet  a 
protestant  people.  Blessed  be  God.  Ps. 
cxxiv.  When  this  old  mercy  is  in  danger  to 
be  forgotten,  God  still  sends  us  fresh  ones;  as 
at  this  time  King  William,  of  blessed  memory, 
landed  in  England,  Nov.  4th,  1C88,  whom 
God  made  a  saviour  to  deliver  us  from  popery, 
and  slavery.  At  the  same  time  of  year  again, 
another  great  deliverance,  in  1714,  from  the 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 


87 


Rebellion  at  Preston.  Our  soul  escaped  as  a 
bird.  I  often  fear  lest  I  offend  God  for  want 
of  a  public  spirit.     A  sign  I  am  but  a  babe  in 

the  family." 


SECTION  IV. 

Her  Humility. 

"  True  humility,"  observes  an  illustrious  wri- 
ter,* "  is  a  lowly  frame  and  habit  of  spirit, 
arising  from  a  due  sense  of  the  glorious  ex- 
cellency of  the  almighty  God,  our  own  frailty 
and  infirmities,  and  our  infinite  dependence 
upon  his  bounty,  goodness,  and  mercy."  And, 
among  the  various  graces  which  adorn  Christi- 
anity, there  is  none  more  valuable.  It  is  es- 
sential to  personal  religion,  and  peculiarly 
distinguishes  eminent  piety.  Who  has  been 
more  humble  than  Abraham,  or  Jacob,  or 
Job,  or  David,  or  Paul  ?  Dr.  Harris  said ;  so 
much  humility  as  any  man  has,  so  much  grace 
and  worth  he  possesses,  and  no  more. 

The  Scriptures  abound  in  discoveries  of  its 

*  Sir  Matthew  Hale. 


88  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

importance.  "  Thus  saith  tlic  high  and  lofty 
One  that  inliabiteth  eternity,  \vh()se  name  is 
Holy ;  I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place, 
with  him  also  that  is  of  a  contrite  and  humble 
spirit,  to  revive  the  spirit  of  the  humble,  and 
to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones." 
"  Put  on  humbleness  of  mind," — "  Be  clothed 
with  humility." 

Angels  are  bright  examples  of  this  sacred 
virtue,  and  it  is  observable  that  Ezckiel,  when 
relating  his  vision  of  their  "  attention,  activity, 
and  perseverance  in  executing  the  divine 
commands,"  expressly  states  that  "  they  had 
the  hands  of  a  man  under  their  wings."  We 
see  their  operations,  but  not  their  hands.  They 
are  humble. 

The  language  of  our  Saviour  on  the  subject 
is  especially  striking.  "  Whosoever  shall  ex- 
alt himself  shall  be  abased ;  and  he  that 
humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted." — And  it 
is  "  well  worthy,"  as  Dr.  Doddridge  has  re- 
marked, "  of  our  observation,  that  no  one  sen- 
tence is  so  frequently  repeated  as  this:  which 
occurs  at  least  ten  times  in  the  Evangelists." 
Humility  is  indeed, 

"The  proof  of  goodnrs?,  and  the  solid  stamp 

Of  blessed  pieiy !    The  hallowed  base 

On  which  the  Christian  virtues  love  to  rest." 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 


89 


Mrs.  Savage,  having  learned  of  Him  who 
was  "  meek  and  lowly  in  heart,"  was  "  poor 
in  spirit."  This  is  manifest  from  her  deep 
sense  of  the  evil  of  sin — her  esteem  of  the 
righteousness  of  Christ,  her  submissive  con- 
duct while  suffering  affliction — her  gratitude 
for  divine  mercies — her  meekness  under  re- 
proach— her  contentment  in  every  station 
— and  her  love  to  prayer,  and  all  heavenly 
appointments.  The  following  extracts  fur- 
nish her  sentiments  on  this  interesting  topic, 
shewing  her  love,  as  well  as  practice,  of  hu- 
mility. 

"  1688,  Dec.  9th,  Sabbath.  In  the  morn- 
ing I  was  more  than  ordinarily  drowsy,  but 
God  was  found  of  me  before  we  went  to 
public  worship.  I  find  it  more  easy  to  go  on 
in  a  course  of  external  duty,  than  to  be  heaven- 
ly and  spiritual  as  I  should  be.  How  many 
vain  thoughts  lodged  within  me  to-day. 
How  long,  Lord,  must  it  be  so  1  This  night  I 
begged  of  God  the  twenty-four  good  spirits 
which  my  dear  falher  has  been  preaching 
over  this  year.  Methinks  I  see  cause  to  be 
especially  earnest  for  an  humble  spirit.  Oh, 
humility  is  a  most  excellent  adorning  grace. 
I  find  pride  strong  in  me,  and  I  am  apt  to  be 
jealous  of  mv  dear  relations  lest  they  do  any 
8* 


90  MEMOIRS    OP    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

thing  in  pride  or  vain-glory.  I  am  of  his 
mind  who  named  the  three  great  graces  of  a 
Christian,  Humility !  Humility  !  Humility  ! 
We  cannot  have  too  mean  thoughts  of  our- 
selves, provided  we  do  not  neglect  our  duty, 
nor  let  go  our  hold  of  Christ." 

"  1694,  August  7th.  The  return  of  the 
day  brings  to  my  mind  the  mercy  of  God  to 
me  in  my  birth.  Thirty  years  I  have  been  a 
monument  of  mercy.  Yet,  how  have  I  abus- 
ed that  patience  and  long-suflering  which  have 
so  long  waited  to  bring  me  to  repentance.  If 
I  can  any  way  judge  of  a  change,  the  greater 
part  of  these  thirty  years  of  my  life  was 
spent  wholly  in  a  state  of  unregeneracy, 
wherein  I  was  not  only  a  stranger  but  an  ene- 
my to  God  ;  and  if,  out  of  the  lesser  half  of 
my  time,  I  subtract  all  that  which  hath  since 
been  employed  in  serving  the  Devil,  the 
world,  and  the  flesh,  how  small  a  part  of 
my  time  hath  my  God  had  to  his  service!  And 
when  out  of  that  I  subtract  all  my  lifeless, 
careless  duties,  wherein  I  have  as  it  were 
only  mocked  him,  offering  a  sacrifice  without 
a  heart,  I  am  amazed  to  think  that  his  pa- 
tience is  yet  lengthened  out  to  a  tree  which 
hath  been  so  many  years  barren  in  the  vine- 
yard.    O  what  empty  spaces  are  there  in  the 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  91 

time  that  is  past.    I  wish  that  for  time  to  come 
my  time  may  be  better  filled  up." 

"  1702,  Sept.  14.  Dear  brother  (after  long 
intermission)  came  to  us,  and  preached  our 
lecture  from  Matt.  v.  3.,  '  Blessed  are  the  poor 
in  spirit.'  Lord,  entitle  me  to  this  blessing. 
Such  are  happy  in  both  worlds — both  hero 
and  hereafter.  This  true  poverty  of  spirit  i.s 
that  which  empties  me  of  self  that  I  may  be 
filled  with  Christ.  It  extends  itself  to  God — 
our  brother — ourselves.  It  enables  us  to 
possess  ourselves  in  any  condition.  I  have 
often  desired  it  of  God,  and  it  is  the  breathing 
of  my  thirsting  soul — Lord,  make  me  poor 
in  spirit,  and  rich  in  spirituals.  How  poor 
soever  I  may  be  in  the  world,  make  me  rich 
in  faith,  an  heir  of '  the  kingdom,'  and  I  have 
enough." 

At  another  time  she  writes  thus :  "  In  the 
evening  several  of  our  friends  came,  espe- 
cially Mr.  King,  who  was  our  good  helper. 
He  preached  excellently  next  day  (Sabbath) 
from  Luke  xviii.  22.  '  Yet  lackest  thou  one 
thing  ; '  but  he  rather  insisted  on  the  parallel 
Scripture,  What  lack  I  yet  ?  There  is  much 
lacking  in  the  best.  Alas  !  I  lack  much — 
much  wisdom,  much  knowledge,  much  grace. 
Surely  it  is  a  proper,  a  very  proper  question 


02  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

for  mc  to  put  to  myself  frequently,  and  espe- 
cially some  times — when  going  to  prayer.  I 
should  then  be  reflecting — what  lack  I  ? 
What  is  it  most  needful  to  pray  for  ?  When 
going  to  the  Lord's  Supper  I  should  ask — 
What  is  it  I  now  especially  want  1 — Lord, 
that  my  eyes  may  be  opened — that  my  heart 
may  be  softened.  This  evening  we  had  a 
long-desired  opportunity.  All  things  ready. 
But  my  poor  heart  was  not  prepared.  I  was 
cold  and  dull.  Lord,  pity  and  pardon,  and 
help  mc  in  after  reflection.  I  need  not  long 
consider  to  answer  this — "  What  lack  I  yet  ?" 
Noticing  an  unpleasant  dispute  between 
]Mr.  Savage  and  a  neighbour,  she  writes,  "  I 
heartily  desire  to  forgive  him  all  his  hard 
thoughts  and  speeches.  If  we  can  approve 
ourselves  to  God  in  our  integrity,  we  must  be 
content  to  pass  through  evil  report,  as  well  as 
good  report.  It  comforts  me  much  that  my 
husband  has  so  satisfied  Mr.  Lawrence,  Mr. 
Illidge,  and  others  of  the  chief  of  the  society, 
that  he  has  not  deserved  those  aspersions 
which  he  has  cast  upon  iiim.  I  hope  God 
will,  in  time,  bring  good  out  of  this  evil. 
I  have  earnestly  desired  it  of  God,  but  I  am 
concerned  that  I  do  not  pray  so  much  and 
earnestly  for  him  as  I  should.     I  think  of  Mr. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  93 

Baxter's  saying — '  Others'  unkindnesses  to  us 
are  but  a  clieck  to  us  for  our  unkindncss  to 
God.' " 

The  concluding  sentence  of  one  of  the  vo- 
lumes of  her  diary  is  strikingly  characteristic 
of  her  prevailing  disposition.  "  It  is  now 
almost  seven  years  since  I  began  this  little 
book.  If  there  have  been  the  workings  of  any 
grace,  it  is  owing  to  the  God  of  grace,  for  I 
am  nothing." 


SECTION  V. 

Her  Patience  atid  Resignatioti  %inder  Ajjliction. 

It  was  in  tribulation  that  Mrs.  Savage  most 
evidently  manifested,  by  a  heavenly  dignity 
and  composure,  the  influence  of  piety.  In 
her  afflictions  we  see  the  keenest  sensibility 
regulated  by  faith,  and  in  the  deepest  sorrow 
behold  her  yielding,  by  sincere  resignation 
and  fervent  prayer,  to  the  divine  will.  Her 
patience  and  humility,  with  a  constellation  of 
celestial  graces,  shone,  in  every  melancholy 
gloom,  with  peculiar  lustre.  The  brilliancy 
of  the  stars  is  best  seen  when  the  night  is 


94  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

dark.  "  Oh  that  wc  could  learn,"  she  re- 
marks, "  these  four  good  lessons,  which  sick- 
ness should  teach  us — what  a  vain  thins  the 
world  is — what  a  vile  thing  sin  is — what  a 
poor  thing  man  is — what  a  precious  thing  an 
interest  in  Christ  is.  If  we  could  thus  make 
the  house  of  affliction  a  school  of  instruction, 
how  well  were  it." 

She  thus  notices  the  sudden  illness  of  her 
beloved  father,  at  a  time  when  he  was  ex- 
pected to  preach  at  Wrenbury  Wood :  "  1687, 
Dec.  2G,  Monday.  I  went  at  night  with  my 
husband  to  Broad  Oak,  on  foot,  with  a  sad 
heart.  Sometimes  I  could  resign  my  father 
up  to  God ;  then,  by-and-by,  natural  affection 
prevailed,  then,  grace  again.  I  well  remem- 
bered that  when,  at  first,  I  entered  into  cove- 
nant with  God  (as  well  as  often  since),  1  gave 
my  all  to  him,  without  excepting  any  of  my 
dearest  comforts,  and  now  shall  I  draw  back  1 
No.  I  did  heartily,  as  my  tender  affection 
would  suffer,  resign  him  up  to  God.  We 
found  him  not  so  ill  as  I  feared.  Wednesday 
and  Thursday  his  pain  continued,  yet  still  sup- 
ported. Everlasting  arms  are  under.  An  un- 
seen hand  making  all  his  bed  easy  to  him,  and, 
in  some  degree,  ])rofitable  to  us.  Three  things, 
he  told  us,  are  comfortable  in  aflliction, — "An 


MEMOIUS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  95 

affliction  borne  patiently  ;  an  enemy  forgiven 
heartily  ;  and  a  Sabbath  sanctified  uprightly." 
Further,  "  Six  things  are  a  salve  for  every 
sore ;  Christ,  a  good  conscience,  the  promises, 
patience,  prayer,  foretastes  of  heaven."  He 
had  many  more  sweet  expressions.  Grace  will 
appear  in  any  condition.  On  Friday  he  be- 
gan to  amend.     Let  God  have  all  the  glory." 

It  pleased  God  frequently  to  exercise  her 
with  sharp  and  long-continued  trials  of  a  more 
personal  nature.  "  Many  are  the  afflictions 
of  the  risfhteous."  "  God  had  one  Son,"  said 
Augustine,  "  without  sin,  but  none  without  af- 
fliction." A  few  days  after  the  birth  of  her 
first  child  she  was  called  to  the  painful  task 
of  surrendering  him  to  the  tomb.  The  whole 
of  her  account  of  the  affecting  event  is  so 
interesting  as  to  render  any  apology  for  its 
length  unnecessary. 

"  1G88.  About  5  at  night,  December  18th, 
he  died:  seemingly  in  little  extremity;  where- 
in God  answered  my  prayers.  Now  I  could 
not  keep  my  passions  in  bounds.  Strength  of 
natural  affection  works,  yet  my  judgment  is 
quiet.  I  had  not  one  repining  thought  against 
God,  as  if  he  dealt  hardly  with  me.  '  It  is 
the  Lord,  let  him  do  as  seemeth  him  good.' 
Shall  I  refuse  to  drink  of  the  cup  that  my 


96  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

Father  puts  into  my  hand?  If  he  had  seen  it 
good  for  mc  I  should  have  had  this  comfort 
spared ;  but,  perhaps,  he  saw  that  my  lieart 
would  too  much  have  gone  out  after  it.  There- 
fore hath  he  dried  up  the  cistern,  to  bring  me 
nearer  to  the  fountain.  Oh  that  it  may  have 
that  blessed  eflect !  As  to  the  everlastins: 
state  of  the  child,  I  have  good  hope  concern- 
ing it ;  'tis  a  very  comfortable  thing  on  this 
account  to  have  an  interest  in  God,  because 
he  hath  said,  *  I  will  be  a  God  to  thee  and  to 
thy  seed.'  It  should  seem  that  David  had 
some  hope  of  the  eternal  salvation  of  his  child 
that  died  in  infancy,  because  he  says — I  shall 
go  to  him.  I  am  satisfied  that  it  v.as  taken 
into  covenant  with  God.  What  though  my 
house  be  not  so  M'ith  God,  he  hath  made  with 
me  an  everlasting  covenant,  and  this  is  all  my 
salvation  and  all  my  desire.  My  good  God 
hath  been  with  me  in  six  troubles,  and  in 
seven.  Thrice  this  year  in  peril.  What 
another  year  may  bring  forth  I  know  not,  nei- 
ther am  I  solicitous  to  know,  for  this  I  know 
— All  is  working  for  my  good.  God  is  teach- 
ing me  by  his  rod.  Upon  this  rod  I  have 
found  honey.  How  hath  my  soul  sometimes 
gone  out  after  God  !  I  have  had  sweet  com- 
munion with  him,  and  communications  from 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  97 

him  upon  my  bed  ;  particularly,  on  Sabbath- 
day,  December  16th,  when  my  dear  mother 
read  to  me  1  Tim.  i.  Oh  !  how  did  my  soul 
catch  at  that  passage  in  the  beginning — The 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  our  hope.  Who  is 
my  hope.  As  one  said,  This  me,  and  my,  and 
mine,  is  the  life  of  religion.  It  is  the  life  of 
my  comfort  when  I  read  Romans  viii.  1,  to 
be  able  to  say,  there  is  no  condemnation 
to  me.  Who  would  be  without  an  interest  in 
Christ?  'Tis  comfortable  at  all  times,  but 
surely  sweetest  of  all,  when  under  God's 
atllicting  hand,  to  be  able  to  say — '  the  rod  is 
in  the  hand  of  a  Father — this  bitter  portion  is 
designed  for  my  good — though  he  slay  me,  yet 
ril  trust  him.' — Shall  I  think  much  to  be 
crossed  who  deserve  to  be  crushed  ?  My 
keeping  of  my  chamber  makes  me,  some- 
times, sad  and  solitary,  to  think  of  the  plea- 
sure others  in  my  circumstances  enjoy,  to 
whom  God  is  pleased  to  spare  their  children  ; 
but  hath  he  not  made  it  up  to  me,  in  some 
measure,  already,  by  sweet  communion  with 
himself?  And  oh  !  what  comfort  also  have 
I  in  other  relations — a  yoke-fellow,  kind  and 
loving  beyond  expression — parents,  brothers, 
and  sisters — all  joining  with  me  in  singing  to 
God,  both  of  mercy  and  judgment." 


98  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

*'  My  strength  r3turns  pretty  fast.  Blessed 
be  God.  I  desire  to  be  ready  for  the  next 
trial.  He  is  training  me  by  degrees.  Tiie 
honey  that  Jonathan  tasted  on  the  rod — 1 
Sam.  xiv.  27,  did  enlighten  his  eyes.  O  !  that 
it  may  be  so  witii  me.  Others  can  attend  on 
public  ordinances.  I  am  confined.  Psalm 
Ixviii.  was  read  by  me  one  Sabbath  morning. 
A  sweet  allusion  from  that  passage,  verse  12 
— she  that  tarried  at  home  divided  the  spoil. 
God  can  make  my  solitude  profitable  to  me, 
yet  I  cannot  but  long  to  see  the  outgoings  of 
my  God,  my  King,  as  I  have  seen  them  in  the 
sanctuary." 

Early  in  the  year  1094,  another  infant  son 
was  removed  from  her  embraces,  soon  after 
his  birth.  Her  sentiments  will  be  best  ex- 
pressed in  her  own  laiiguage. 

"Friday  night,  12th  January,  about  six 
o'clock,  it  pleased  God  to  take  him  to  himself 
I  found  it  hard  to  quiet  my  s{)irit  so  as  I  should. 
My  judgment  is  quiet ;  and  tells  me  that  from 
such  a  hand  nothing  can  come  amiss  ;  but 
my  affections  are  often  rebelling.  Nature  is, 
sometimes,  too  strong  for  grace.  I  must  not 
for  the  sake  of  this  one  cross  throw  away 
other  comforts.  I  have  other  relations  exceed- 
ingly tender  and  careful,  especially  he  who 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  99 

is  in  the  nearest  relation,  wliom  God  might 
have  taken  from  me  instead  of  this  infant. 
]My  dear  mother  was  with  me  two  nights,  and 
sister  Radford  from  Chester,  staying  till  the 
cliild  was  taken,  was  very  useful  to  nie.  I 
have  the  prayers  of  dear  father,  brother,  &c. ; 
but,  above  all,  that  which  most  comforts  me 
is — my  covenant  interest  in  God  as  mine, 
which  gives  me  hope  that  he  means  me  no 
hurt  in  his  dispensations.  He  saw  that  I 
spent  too  many  thoughts  and  cares  about  my 
children,  and  if  this  had  been  spared  my 
cares  would  have  been  increased.  I  trust 
God  hath  taken  him  to  heaven,  and  left  me 
to  serve  him  better  on  earth.     Amen." 

The  death  of  her  only  surviving  son,  in 
the  twenty-second  year  of  his  age,  gave  fresh 
occasion  for  the  exercise  of  Christian  graces ; 
and  though  her  heart  seems  to  have  been, 
thereby,  peculiarly  agonized,  she  was  ena- 
bled, through  divine  influence,  thus  to  record 
the  visitation. 

"  1721,  February  15.  My  dear  Philip 
was  seized  with  the  fatal  distemper,  the  small- 
pox. Many,  many,  fervent  prayers  were  put 
up  for  him,  both  in  closets  and  congregations, 
but  on  Monday,  February  27th,  between  one 
and  two  o'clock,  he  breathed    his    last — the 


100  MEMOIRS    OF    MKS.    SAVAGE. 

blessed  spirit  took  wing,  I  trust,  to  the  world 
of  everlasting  rest  and  joy.  Tiic  desire  of 
our  eyes — concerning  whom  we  were  ready 
to  say,  This  son  shall  comfort  us.  Once  all 
our  joy — now,  all  our  tears.  Near  22  years 
of  age.  O  my  dear  Jonathan,  thou  art  slain 
in  the  high  places.  lie  was  just  beginning  to 
appear  in  public  business — sober,  and  pious. 
A  true  lover  of  his  friends,  of  whom  he  said 
on  his  death-bed,  '  I  lay  them  down  as  I  do 
my  body,  in  hope  to  meet  again  every  way 
better.'  To  his  father  he  said,  '  Farewell, 
my  dear  father,  you  won't  be  long  after  me  :' 
— one  of  the  last  words  we  could  understand 
was  of  that  blessed  choir — that  triumphant 
choir,  to  which,  I  verily  believe,  he  is  joined. 
A  sore  breach  this  is  to  us.  But,  now  God  has 
done  his  work,  let  us  go  and  do  ours — pa- 
tiently, and  quietly  lying  down  under  the 
rod.  It  is  the  Lord,  let  him  do  as  seemeth 
him  good.  I  have  no  murmuring  thoughts. 
Lord,  thou  shalt  beat,  and  I  will  endeavour 
to  bear.  I  do  not  think  the  worse  of  God,  or 
of  prayer,  for  this  dispensation ;  yet,  some- 
times, I  am  much  oppressed.  I  find  that  de- 
ceit lies  in  generals.  IIow  often  have  I  in 
word,  and  in  tongue,  given  up  and  d.cvoted 
my  all — yoke-fellow,  children,  estate — and  all 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  101 

without  mental  reservation.  And  now,  when 
God  comes  to  try  me  in  but  one  dear  comfort, 
with  what  difficulty  can  I  part  with  him !  O 
this  wicked  heart.  Shall  I  think  to  keep  back 
any  thing  when  I  have  given  all?  By  no  means. 
Lord,  I  am  thine,  and  all  I  have,  and  all  I 
can  do.  Though  thou  shouldest  strip  me  of  all 
my  children,  and  of  ail  my  comforts  here,  yet 
if  thou  give  me  thyself,  and  clear  up  to  me 
my  interest  in  the  everlasting  covenant,  it  is 
enough.  That  blessed  covenant  has  enough 
in  it  to  gild  the  most  gloomy  dispensation  of 
Providence.  O,  that  we  may  hear  the  Lord's 
controversy !  He  seems  to  speak  in  this  pro- 
vidence as  one  that  will  be  heard.  Lord,  give 
me  the  hearing  ear.  The  man  of  wisdom  will 
hear.  What  says  my  Lord  unto  his  ser- 
vant ? — It  is  a  great  loss  to  lose  any  children, 
especially  such  an  one  as  this.  Lord,  do  me 
good  by  it,  that  I  may  keep  the  mean  be-tween 
despising  the  chastening,  and  fainting  under 
it.  We  have  had  a  long  series  of  health, 
peace,  plenty — We  have  not  been  emptied 
from  vessel  to  vessel.  We  have  lived  too 
easily,  too  happily,  even  to  the  envy  of  those 
about  us — and  now,  God  sends  this  sharp  and 
heavy  affliction.  I  would  get  good  by  it,  and 
be  brought  nearer  to  himself.  Alas !  how 
9* 


102  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

weak  is  my  heart,  how  hard  to  turn  my  tears 
into  the  right  channel.  We  have  many  s}-m- 
pathizing  friends  and  letters,  which  to  me  are 
but  as  songs  sung  to  a  heavy  heart." 

"March  5th.  Sabbath-day.  Mr.  Taw- 
dry preached  the  funeral  sennon  on  Hcb.  vi, 
12.  'That  ye  be  not  slothful,  but  followers  of 
them,  w'ho  through  faith  and  patience  inherit 
the  promises.'  He  gave  him  a  short,  but  just, 
character.  I  am  comforted  with  hopes  that 
I  shall  shortly  follow  him  to  that  blessed  rest. 
Lord,  do  us  good  by  these  providences. 
Bring  me  nearer  to  thee,  and  then  '  separate 
me  from  what  thou  wilt,  and  when  thou  wilt !' 
I  have  condoling  letters  daily  from  my  friends. 
Their  words,  indeed,  do  reach  my  case,  but 
cannot  reach  my  heart.  Yet  (I  bless  God)  I 
am  supported.  Every  one  of  our  dear  friends 
is  sorry  for  us.     But,  what  are  they  ?" 

"  Friday,  March  24.  This  was  my  dear 
Philip's  birth-day  :  if  he  had  lived  to  it  he 
would  have  been  twenty-two.  But,  I  trust, 
he  is  born  into  glory.  '  The  pangs  of  death 
to  a  believer  are  but  as  the  pains  of  a  birth. 
Blessed  be  God,  my  dear  child  had  no  bands 
in  his  death.  He  said,  '  Death  is  not  bitter.' 
I  must  remember  the  mercy  of  his  birtii,  and 
with  this  comfortable  reflection — that  neither 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  103 

of  US  were  over  desirous,  or  over  foml,  not- 
withstanding we  had  five  daughters  before. 
A  good  woman  said  to  the  prophet — Did  I  de- 
sire a  son  ?  I  hope  not  inordinately.  My 
dear  mother,  when  some  seemed  much  pleased 
that  we  had  an  heir,  said, — '  If  they  Iiave  not 
a  better  inheritance  than  any  we  have  for 
them,  it  were  better  they  had  never  been  born.' 
I  trust  he  is  now  possessed  of  a  blessed  inher- 
itance— incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  fa- 
deth  not  away." 

"  Lord's  day,  April  30th,  I  went  to  Nant- 
wich.  I  had  too  many  thoughts  of  my  dear 
Philip,  who  used  to  ride  before  me.  Yet,  I 
hope,  I  do  cheerfully  acquiesce  in  the  divine 
disposals.  The  text  was  Rom.  vi.  13,  Yield 
yourselves  unto  God.  I  trust  I  do  this  delib- 
erately, sincerely,  freely,  for  ever.  I  did  it 
at  the  Lord's  table,  and  when  I  took  the  ele- 
ments I  had  this  thought — The  particular 
grace  I  desire  to  get  strengthened  hero  is — 
submission,  and  contentment  with  the  blessed 
will  of  God  in  this  severe  dispensation.  I 
have  good  ground  to  hope  I  am  answered. 
My  judgment  is  quiet  and  satisfied,  but  my 
aflcction  sometimes  breaks  out.  I  have  not 
had  a  dry  day  since.  In  heaven  all  tears 
shall  be  wiped  away.     O  blessed  state  !     Ev- 


104  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

erlasting  joy  shall  crown  those  blessed  ones, 
and  sorrow  and  sigliing  shall  forever  flee 
away." 

This  heart  breaking  trial  called  forth  the 
commiseration,  and  sympathy  of  friends,  both 
near  and  distant.  Many  consolatory  letters 
were  addressed  to  her :  part  of  her  reply  to 
one  written  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Finch,  of  Nor- 
wich, is  as  follows : 

"  Rev.  and  dear  sir, — "  I  do,  as  I  w-ell  may, 
esteem  it  a  great  favour  that  you  would  take 
so  much  time  from  your  other  weighty  em- 
ployments to  write  to  me  a  mere  stranger — 
but  unacquaintedness  with  the  face  is  no  bar 
to  the  communion  of  saints — and  for  all  your 
kind  expressions  of  a  tender  sympathy,  I  re- 
turn you  a  great  many  thanks.  'Tis  a  demonstra- 
tion that  you  are  qualified,  as  a  gospel  minis- 
ter should  be,  to  bind  up  broken  hearts,  and  to 
speak  a  word  in  season  to  them  that  need  it. 
It  has  pleased  our  heavenly  Father,  in  wisdom, 
to  chastise  us,  by  taking  away  the  '  desire  of 
our  eyes  with  a  stroke,' yet  I  desire  to  justify 
him  in  all  his  dealings.  From  his  good  hands 
nothing  can  come  amiss.  I  can  see  by  what 
you  write  that  you  can  easily  put  your  soul 
in  my  soul's  stead,  and  know,  somewhat,  of 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.  SAVAGE.  105 

the  heart  of  a  sorrowful  parent.  I  was  ready 
to  say — this  same  shall  comfort  us,  and  that 
he  would  be  serving  God  on  earth  when  we 
are  silent  in  the  dust ;  but  infinite  wisdom  said 
otherwise.  And  shall  folly  dispute  ?  We 
were  ready  to  think  our  mountain  stood 
strong  ;  but  alas  !  soon  convinced  of  the  con- 
trary. I  would  now  make  it  my  greatest 
care  to  improve  the  providence.  To  lose  such 
a  dear  child,  and  not  be  bettered  by  the  af- 
fliction, doubles  the  loss.  You  well  observe 
that  of  David — '  I  shall  go  to  him' — not  only 
to  him  to  the  grave,  but  to  him  to  heaven,  to 
be  joined  to  that  blessed  choir  which  he  spoke 
of  a  few  hours  before  his  death.  Though 
we  are  much  at  a  loss  as  to  the  partic- 
ular meaning  of  this  providence,  yet  in 
general,  we  are  sure  it  is  well.  I  have 
now  one  less  tie  to  draw  me  downward,  and 
shall  have  so  much  less  care  in  my  dying  mo- 
ments." 

Afterwards  she  thus  expresses  herself: — 
"  This  week  I  found  among  some  of  my  old 
collections  a  useful  passage  concerning  afflic- 
tions. '  If  such  things  befal  the  Master,  it  is 
sulTicient  for  the  servant  to  be  as  his  Master, 
and  as  his  Lord.  And  all  to  make  him  more 
humble,  more  awful  of  God,  more  careful  to 


106  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

please  him,  more  fearful  to  offend  him, 
more  conformable  to,  and  contemplative  of, 
Christ's  sufferings,  and  more  compassionate 
to  others.  Afllictions  render  sin  more  bitter, 
Christ  more  sweet,  the  world  more  contempti- 
ble, death  more  desirable,  heaven  more  de- 
lightful, and  glorious  grace  more  admirable 
in  the  saints.  How  good  to  be  thus  troubled 
on  every  side,  but  not  distressed ;  cast  down, 
but  not  destroyed  ;  a  bush  burning,  but  not 
consumed ;  in  a  fiery  furnace,  yet  receiving 
no  hurt.  Nay  more,  the  fiery  chariot  of  af- 
fliction shall  be  pressed  for  the  service  of 
carrying  Christians  to  heaven.  Their  very 
tribulations  are  made  the  door  for  their  enter- 
ing into  the  kingdom  of  God.  Therefore, 
the  Scriptures  count  them  haj)py  that  endure, 
and  teach  us  to  reckon  it  *  all  joy'  when  we 
fall  '  into  divers  temptations.'  When  I  read 
or  hear  such  things,  my  own  heart  ref)roach- 
es  me  that  I  have  not  thus  received  correc- 
tion, as  I  ought.  Though  my  judgment  is 
well  satisfied,  and  submits  to  the  sharpest 
strokes,  yet  my  aflections  are  often  stubborn, 
unwilling  to  be  subjected.  It  was  one  of 
my  dear  Philip's  sayings,  when  on  his 
death-bed — '  I    can    bear    any    thing    from 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  107 

God's   immediate   hand' — Then   wliy   should 
not  I  ?" 

In  the  year  1729,  the  faith  and  patience 
of  this  heavenly  traveller  were  again  severely 
tried.  Affliction  met  her  with  a  still  more 
terrible  aspect,  and  the  king  of  terrors  re- 
moving by  a  sudden  grasp,  her  aged  husband, 
left  her  a  mourning  widow.  How  aflecling  is 
the  following  statement ! 

"  Saturday,  Sept.  27th.  A  heavy  stroke 
falls  upon  me,  unexpectedly,  by  the  sudden 
death  of  my  dear  yoke-fellow,  with  whom  I 
have  lived  in  great  amity  and  affection,  these 
forty-two  years  and  six  months.  Lord,  what 
is  man  1  He  seemed  pretty  well  in  the  morn- 
ing, but  complaining  of  pain  I  persuaded  him 
to  go  to  bed,  which  he  no  sooner  had  done, 
but  he  expired  without  a  sigh  or  groan. 
Alas !  what — what  is  this  that  God  hath 
done  unto  us?  O,  for  wisdom  and  grace  to 
improve  this  sad  providence  !  He  had  almost 
completed  his  seventy-eighth  year.  I  will 
endeavour  to  lay  my  hand  on  my  mouth.  I 
have  often  told  my  heavenly  Father,  that  I 
will  take  nothing  ill  that  he  shall  do  with  me. 
Since  I  have  his  eye,  his  ear,  and  blessing, 
why  should  I  not  submit  to  his  rod  ?" 

"  Sabbath  day,  Sept.  28th.     We  kept  a  poor 


108  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

cold,  and  sorrowful  sabbalh.  I  sit  alone  and 
keep  silence." 

"  Monday.  I  received  condoling  letters. 
One  reminds  me  of  that  sweet  promise — Thy 
maker  is  thine  husband — I  am  a  widow,  but 
not  desolate — none  of  those  who  trust  in  God 
shall  be  desolate." 

"  I  record  it  to  the  praise  of  my  best 
Friend,  that  this  evening  (IMonday)  I  begin  to 
be  in  a  better  frame ;  more  composed — so 
that  I  slept  well.  How  kind  is  my  heavenly 
Father  to  a  froward  child !  Lord,  help  me 
to  behave  myself  well  under  this  sharp  dis- 
pensation. I  own  the  mercy  of  God  to  me 
in  outward  things.  I  am  not  forsaken  of  my 
friends,  but  the  contrary ;  every  one  is  ready 
to  help  me.  I  am  not  loft  in  debt,  and  with 
children  little.  Surely  all  these  mercies  should 
make  me  thankful." 

"  Tuesday,  Sept.  30th.  I  am  still  desiring 
and  endeavouring  to  improve  this  affliction. 
I  would  meditate  on  the  happiness  of  separate 
spirits.  lie  that  was  lately  groaning  (though 
that  was  seldom)  is  now,  I  trust,  singing  and 
rejoicing,  and  would  not  be  again  with  us.  O 
glorious  hour  !  Blessed  exchange  !" 

"  Wednesday,  Oct.  1st,  We  laid  up  the 
dear  remains  in  comfortable  hope  of  a  glori- 


MEMOIRS    OF    Mils.    SAVAGE.  109 

ous  resurrection.  The  sadness  of  my  spirit 
makes  me  almost  stupid ;  yet,  in  reflection,  I 
will  say — all  is  well.  We  are  parted  tor  a 
time;  yet,  I  trust,  we  shall  be  together  for 
ever.  Our  friends  and  neighbours  mingle 
tears  with  us.  He  has  long  served  his  gene- 
ration, and  is  now  gone  to  rest.  A  flood  of 
cares  falls  on  me,  but  I  cast  all  my  care  on 
my  heavenly  Father,  who  has  cared  for  me 
hitherto,  and  I  trust,  will.  I  lack  wisdom.  I 
ask  it.  Lord,  give — give  liberally.  Do  not 
upbraid.  No,  not  with  my  folly.  For  the 
liOrd  God  is  a  sun  and  shield :  the  Lord  will 
give  grace  and  glory :  no  good  thing  will  he 
withhold  from  them  that  walk  uprightly.  A 
promise  worth  a  king's  ransom.  God's 
sovereignty  should  silence  me,  and  his  wisdom 
satisfy.  It  is  well  with  my  husband.  It  is 
well.  All  is  well  that  God  doth.  My  time 
after  him  is  not  likely  to  be  long." 


SECTION  VI. 

Her  Piety  and  Devotion. 

Having  seen  the  ardent  glow  which  signalized 

Mrs.  Savage's  piety  in  public  and  social  life, 

10 


110  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

it  will  not  be  unimportant  to  retire  with  lier 
into  her  closet,  there  to  witness  her  holy  earn- 
estness for  advancement  in  Christian  experi- 
ence and  godly  practice. 

Her  disposition  being  peculiarly  sociable, 
she  felt  a  refined  pleasure  in  Christian  friend- 
ship, and  in  conversation  directed  to  spiritual 
subjects.  Nevertheless,  her  prevailing  enjoy- 
ment was  in  retirement,  and,  unless  unavoida- 
bly prevented,  she  constantly  sought  it,  morn- 
ing and  evening,  and,  in  her  latter  years,  at 
noon  also.  "  It  is  the  nature  of  true  grace," 
observed  a  great  divine,  "  that  however  it 
loves  Christian  society  in  its  place,  yet  it  in  a 
particular  manner  delights  in  retirement,  and 
secret  converse  with  God.  So  that,  if  per- 
sons appear  greatly  engaged  in  social  reli- 
gion, and  but  little  in  the  religion  of  the  clo- 
set, and  are  often  highly  affected  when  with 
otlicrs,  and  but  little  moved  when  they  have 
none  but  God  and  Christ  to  converse  with,  it 
looks  very  darkly  upon  their  religion." 

"  I  would  rather,"  she  writes,  '*  spend  one 
solitary  hour  in  mourning  before  God  over 
heart  corruption,  than  many  in  the  outward 
exercises  of  religion,  wherein  hypocrites  may 
not  only  equal  but  outdo  the  sincere  Christian. 
I  usually  find  that  when  1  most  solemnly  se-^ 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  Ill 

questcr  myself,  and  spend  most  time  in  duty, 
then  God  is  pleased  to  meet  me,  and  make 
the  duty  sweet  indeed."  To  this,  perliaps,  is 
to  be  attributed  in  a  great  degree,  her  emi- 
nence in  piety. 

The  following  stanza,  by  Dr.  Watts,  well 
expressed  her  desires  when  engaged  in  secret 
worship  : 

Far  from  my  thoughts,  vain  world,  begone, 
Let  my  religious  hours  alone; 
Fain  would  my  eyes  my  Saviour  see ; 
I  wait  a  visit,  Lord,  from  thee. 

"  This,"  she  remarks,  "  is  usually  applied  to 
the  Lord's  day,  but  I  think  it  a  very  proper 
thought  any  time  when  I  retire." 

Self-dedication  formed  an  important  part 
of  her  employment,  and  it  was  attended  with 
a  blessed  efl'ect. 

A  specimen  is  thus  recorded  :  "  Sabbath 
evening,  Sept.  IStli,  1687.  I  renewed  my 
covenant  with  God,  afresh  resolving  (accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Allein's  phrase)  to  call  nothing 
mine  but  him — my  Lord  and  my  God — lie  is 
mine.  I  will  rejoice.  Nothing  shall  be  able 
to  separate — neither  death,  nor  life — prosper- 
ity, nor  adversity.  I  trust  in  him.  I  rely  on 
his  promises.     Tiiese  shall  be  my  staif  with 


112  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

which  I  will  pass  over  this  Jordan  towards 
the  heavenly  Canaan.  Next  morning  I  had 
comfort  in  reflecting  on  this." 

She  invariably  entered  upon  a  new  year 
with  devout  solemnity,  and,  accompanying  a 
minute  retrospect  of  providential  goodness 
with  fervent  praises,  consecrated  herself  anew 
to  the  glory  of  her  heavenly  Benefactor. 
Tiie  form  prescribed  by  her  father  was,  at 
those  seasons,  commonly  used,  and  having 
transcribed  it  in  her  diary,  she  signed  and 
sometimes  scaled  it.  The  following  instances 
present  themselves. 

"1721,  Jan.  1st.  I  am  now  entering  on 
another  year.  It  is  of  the  Lord's  mercy  I 
am  not  consumed.  Yet  spared — to  see  the 
beginning  of  it.  It  is  uncertain  what  it  may 
bring  forth.  I  have,  this  morning,  made  a 
fresh  surrender  of  myself  and  all  that  is  dear 
to  mc,  to  be  freely  and  entirely  at  the  dispo- 
sal of  my  heavenly  Father — with  this  solemn 
profession — that  there  shall  be  but  one  will 
between  us,  and  it  sliall  be  his.  By  his  grace 
1  am  determined  to  take  nothing  ill  that  he 
shall  do  with  mc.  If  all  other  steps  arc 
ordered  by  God,  surely  the  last,  and  most  im- 
portant step,  shall  be  so — the  great  step  from 
one  world  to  another.     I  hope  he  will  order 


MEMOIRS    OF    MKS.    SAVAGE.  113 

it  wisely  and  comfortably.  I  must  own  I 
have  some  fears  about  my  children's  health. 
The  circumstances  of  two  of  them  are  peri- 
lous. But  both  as  to  the  one,  and  the  other, 
I  have  spread  my  concern  before  my  dear 
and  tender  Father,  and  with  him  I  cheerfully 
leave  myself,  and  all  mine.  I  was  allected 
with  what  I  read  lately  in  the  exposition  on  1 
Tim.  ii.  2. — '  That  we  may  lead  a  quiet  and 
peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty.' 
This  is  the  top  of  the  ambition  of  a  good 
Christian — to  lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life 
in  all  godliness  and  honesty — to  get  through 
the  world  unmolested — in  a  low,  private  sta- 
tion :  and  truly,  this  well  suits  me,  being 
what  I  desire  for  myself.  If  God  will  be 
with  and  keep  me  in  the  way  that  I  go,  and 
give  me  food  to  eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on, 
then  the  Lord  shall,  yea  he  shall  be  my  God. 
I  have  avouched  him  to  be  mine,  and,  through 
grace,  I  resolve  to  be  wholly,  and  entirely  his. 

•r  *******  * 

And,  I  am  bold  to  assert  that  unallowed 
miscarriages,  contrary  to  the  bent  and  desire 
of  my  heart,  shall  not  make  void  this  cove- 
nant. 

Thy  own. 


10* 


Sarah  Savage." 


114  MEMOIRS    OF    MUS.    SAVAGE. 

At  another  time  she  thus  writes.  "Jan.  1. 
Methinks  I  should  begin  the  year  with  some- 
thing of  solemnity.  I  would  begin  it  with 
God.  The  last  has  been  a  year  of  mercy. 
No  remarkable  affliction  to  myself  or  mine. 
Many  mercies.  No  death  in  the  family  of 
our  children — houses  made  to  grow.  Bless- 
ed be  God,  the  God  of  our  mercies  !  Now, 
what  does  the  Lord  my  God  require  of  me  ? 
I  should  love  him  more  and  serve  him  better. 
In  order  to  it  I  devote  and  dedicate  myself 
afresh  to  his  fear  and  service — and,  with  so 
much  the  more  seriousness,  as  I  see  the  day 
approaching.  I  have  now  completed  my  six- 
tieth year.  What  a  great  while  wandering  in 
this  wilderness  ! 

"  Long  ago,  my  dear  father  observed,  from 
Joshua  xiii.  1,  where  God  says,  *  Thou  art  old, 
and  stricken  in  age,'  that  '  those  who  are  so 
have  need  to  be  reminded  of  it.'  Surely  I 
should  be  daily  considering,  What  lack  1 
yet? — What  knowledge — what  love  to  God — 
what  heavenly  mindedness?  These  I  much 
lack,  and  would  l)e  daily  improving  in — but, 
alas  !  I  am  apt  to  grow  cool,  careless,  indo- 
lent. Methinks  because  of  all  this,  I  would 
make  a  sure  covenant,  and  seal  it.  I  would 
be  belter  this  year  I  am  entering  upon  limn  I 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  115 

liavG  been  formerly.  Particularly,  I  would 
sanctify  Sabbaths  better,  and  be  more  fre- 
quent in  solemn  meditation,  which  has  been 
called  a  soul-fattening  duty.  Lord,  help  me 
herein,  for,  of  myself,  I  am  unable  to  think 
a  good  thought,  much  less  a  chain  of  good 
thoughts. 

"  I  take  God  the  Father  (my  great  Cre- 
ator) for  my  chiefest  good  and  my  highest 
end. 

"  I  take  God  the  Son  (whom  he  hath  exal- 
ted) to  be  my  Prince  and  Saviour. 

"  I  take  God  the  Holy  Ghost  for  my  sanc- 
tifier,  teacher,  guide,  and  comforter. 

"  I  take  the  word  of  God  to  be  my  rule  in  all 
my  actions. 

"  I  take  the  people  of  God  to  be  my  people 
in  all  conditions. 

"  I  also  give,  dedicate,  and  devote  myself 
unto  the  Lord,  all  that  I  am,  all  that  I  have, 
and  all  that  I  can  do.  And  this  I  do  delibe- 
rately, sincerely,  freely,  and  for  ever. 

"  Amen.  And  let  this  covenant  that  I  have 
made  on  earth  be  ratified  in  heaven. 

[Seal]  «'  Sarah  Savage." 

"  I  do  this  with  all  solemnity,  because  I  find 


116  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

my  naughty  heart  too  apt  to  fall  olT,  and  ne- 
glect solemn  obligations.  It  is  an  old  maxim, 
'  Fast  bind,  tast  find,'  We  cannot  repeat  too 
often  that  which  we  cannot  do  too  well.  Dear 
Lord,  help  thy  poor  feeble,  unworthy  servant, 
and  daily  work  in  me  what  thou  requires!  of 
me." 

She  abounded  in  the  arduous  duty  of  Self- 
examination.  Heavenly  wisdom  not  only 
preserved  lier  from  presumption,  but,  by 
creating  anxious  solicitude  as  to  the  reality 
of  her  experience,  induced  a  frequent  and 
scrutinizing  appeal  to  the  bible  on  the  im- 
portant subject.  She  also,  carefully,  used 
other  aids,  so  far  as  they  corresponded  with 
revelation  ;  and  diligently  noted,  in  waiting, 
whatever  she  met  with  in  reading,  or  heard 
in  public  worship,  conducive  to  the  same  end. 

"  My  dear  brougiit  me,"  she  writes  on  one 
occasion,  "  a  good  book  from  brother  Henry, 
entitled, — A  Sacramental  Question  concern- 
ing Assurance.  I  find  many  excellent  things 
in  it,  which  are  very  suitable  to  me — answer- 
ing the  objections  of  doubting  Christians,  who 
fear  they  have  not  passed  a  saving  change, 
because  they  cannot  tell  exactly  the  time  of 
it.  But  (saith  the  worthy  author)  '  If  the 
Spirit  of  Christ  hath  wrought  such  a  change 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  117 

in  your  judgment,  choice,  aficctions,  con- 
science, and  life,  as  will  make  up  the  character 
of  a  sanctified  person,  you  should  not  be  per- 
plexed for  want  of  knowing  when  this  change 
was  first  made.  You  may  know  a  man  is 
alive,  though  you  know  not  when  or  where  he 
was  born.'  '  'Tis  certain,'  (saith  he)  'corrupt 
nature  could  never  incline  you  to  love  God, 
and  be  devoted  to  him — to  hate  sin,  and  watch 
against  it — to  take  Christ  for  your  Saviour,  and 
heaven  for  your  portion.  It  must  be  from  the 
Divine  Spirit ;  however  early,  gradual,  and  in- 
sensible it  seems  to  have  been  effected.'  I 
have  often  had  fears  as  to  myself,  that  I  have 
not  experienced  sufficiently  the  terrors  of  the 
law,  but  I  bless  God  for  the  satisfaction  I  have 
here  met  w-ith." 

When  detained  from  public  worship,  the 
time  was  frequently  spent  in  serious  self-in- 
quiry. Thus  she  expresses  herself  on  one  of 
these  occasions  :  "  I  was  all  day  at  home.  I 
read  sometimes  in  Firmin's  Ileal  Christian. 
Very  excellent.  Concerning  receiving  Christ 
in  truth,  I  am,  especially,  to  ask,  IIow  did  I 
receive  him  ?  Was  my  choice  deliberate — 
free — full  ?  Am  I  resolved,  by  his  grace,  it 
shall  be  firm  and  abiding?  That  death  itself 
shall  not  separate  ?     I  trust  I  am.     But  then 


118  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

Avliom  did  I  receive  1  A  Saviour,  and  also  a 
vSovercign.  A  Christ  as  well  as  Jesus.  I  am 
■willing  to  take  his  yoke  upon  me.  It  is  a 
sweet,  pleasant,  easy  yoke.  It  is  my  daily 
grief  that  I  daily  break  his  holy  laws.  It  is 
my  comfort  that  he  can  subdue  these  rebels 
in  my  soul,  which  oppose  his  rule  and  govern- 
ment. O  thou  King  of  Peace  !  tread  tliem 
under  thy  feet.  I  still  find  creature  love  pre- 
vails too  much,  and  I  wonder  at  the  patience 
of  my  heavenly  Father,  that  he  does  not  take 
away  the  comforts  I  over-prize.  Yet,  Lord, 
tliou  knowest,  in  the  settled  bent  of  my 
choice,  I  do  love  thee  more  than  these  :  more 
than  any  thing  else.  That  I  do  at  any 
time  seem  to  do  otherwise  is  my  greatest 
grief." 

At  another  time  thus :  "  This  morning  I 
read  in  an  excellent  book — Co  ley  on  Eter- 
nity. What  an  awful  thought!  Shortly  all 
seen  things  shall  not  be  seen,  and  unseen 
things  seen.  It  is  a  serious,  and  a  needful 
(|uestion — What  evidence  have  I  for  heaven 
— what  ground  have  I  to  hope  that  it  shall  go 
well  with  me  to  all  eternity  ?  My  conscience 
witnesses  for  me,  that  I  love  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  sincerity — that  I  would  not  omit  a 
known  duty,  nor  commit  any   known  sin — 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  119 

that  I  would  walk  in  the  narrow  way,  and 
carefully  follow  those  w^ho  now  through  faith 
and  patience,  inherit  the  promises — that  it  is 
my  great  grief  that,  in  so  many  instances,  I 
come  short  of  my  duty,  grieve  the  Spirit,  and 
wound  my  conscience.  Yet,  I  hope  I  can  say 
I  do  not  w'ickedly  depart  from  my  God.  It 
grieves  me,  saith  a  pious  one,  that  I  cannot 
give  him  present  actual  possession  of  that 
which  I  would  he  should  have.  It  is  reported 
of  some  hermits,  that  they  were  very  careful 
of  their  sepulchres,  but  took  little  care  of  their 
houses,  becjftise  they  should  dwell  but  a  little 
while  in  their  houses,  but  should  lie  a  long 
time  in  their  sepulchres.  Oh  that  I  could  al- 
ways think  of  this,  and  act  accordingly." 

While  on  a  visit  to  her  brother,  Matthew 
Henry,  at  Chester,  she  thus  mentions  the  ex- 
ercises of  the  Sabbath  :  "  I  had  a  comfortable 
day  joining  with  that  assembly  in  holy  ordi- 
nances. In  the  forenoon,  Brother  went  on  in 
expounding  gospel  Psalms,  such  as  especially 
look  at  Christ.  To-day  Psalm  Ixix.  We  had 
the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  (the  first 
in  the  new  Chapel)  administered,  which  I 
have  often  found  sweetness  in.  I  received  a 
pardon  as  being  the  purchase  of  that  precious 
blood   which   purchases  precious  privileges, 


120  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

and  nourishes  precious  graces,  and  comforts. 
Lord,  evermore  give  me  of  this  bread.  The 
exhortation,  Have  I  here  also  looked  after 
him  that  seeth  mc?  He  told  us,  that  much 
of  religion  lies  in  the  eye  of  a  believing  soul 
being  fixed  on  an  all-seeing  God. 

"  The  subject  was  2  Cor.  xiii.  5.  Examine 
yourselves  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith.  Doc- 
trine :  all  that  profess  themselves  Christians 
ought  strictly  to  examine  whether  they  are 
Christians  indeed. 

"  I  remember  my  faults — how  much  1  have 
been  wanting  in  this  great  duty.  Oh !  this 
heart  work  is  hard  work.  The  motives  he 
urged  were — It  is  a  matter  of  great  concern- 
ment— The  rule  is  very  strict — It  is  easy  to 
be  deceived — Multitudes  are  mistaken — It  is 
a  matter  that  will  be  examined  shortly — A 
mistake  is  of  fatal  consequence — and  the  true 
discovery  of  our  state  will  turn  greatly  to  our 
advantage.  The  rules  he  gave  were — 
Examine  your  settled  judgment — Your  delib- 
erate choice — Your  indwelling  cares — Your 
outgoing  affections — And  your  constant  and 
allowed  practice.  Psalm  cxxxix.  23,  24.  O 
God,  do  thou  help  me  in  the  search. 

"  The  third  head  most  alarms  me — In- 
dwellincf  cares — I   have  too   manv  thoujrhts 


MEMOIIIS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  121 

and  cares  concerning  things  of  time  and  the 
body,  but  the  thoughts  I  most  dehght  in  are 
of  another  kind ;  though,  alas !  too  few  and 
seldom.     Eben-ezcr." 

Another  sacramental  opportunity  is  thus  re- 
corded :  "  I  did  avouch  the  Lord  for  my  God, 
and  I  had  some  true,  though  weak,  desires 
towards  him.  The  exhortation  was  from  1 
John.  ii.  2.  And  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our 
sins :  and  not  for  ours  only,  but  also  for  the 
sins  of  the  whole  w^orld.  This  was  suitable 
to  the  subject  of  the  day.  Phil.  iii.  9.  Not 
having  mine  own  righteousness ;  proving  that 
the  best  of  us  have  no  righteousness  of  our 
own  wherein  we  dare  appear  before  God. 
There  were  some  serious  queries  to-day. 

1.  Do  you  not  find  great  defect  in  love  to 
God?  Think  so  seldom  and  so  coldly  of 
him  ? 

2.  Do  you  not  find  great  defect  in  love  to 
your  brother?  I  am  verily  guilty. 

3.  Do  you  not  find  great  defect  in  love  to 
your  own  souls,  and  their  true  interest  ? 

4.  Do  you  not  find  a  want  of  power  to  be, 
and  do,  what  indeed  you  would,  in  that  which 
is  good  ? 

I  must  own  all  this,  and  a  great  deal  more. 
Where  then  is  n1y  righteousness  ?  Lord,  I  have 
11 


122  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

none.  None.  None  of  my  own  ;  but,  I  hope 
I  have  some  interest  in  one  who  is  tlie  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Righteous.  I  fly  to  him  as 
my  only  refuge.  Let  me  be  found  in  him  here, 
and  for  ever." 

Meditation  may  be  instanced  as  another 
branch  of  her  devotional  character. 

"  Where  your  treasure  is  there  will  your 
heart  be  also,"  was  the  impressive  declaration 
of  our  Lord,  when  describing  the  nature  and 
cllccts  of  piety.  And  since  God  is  the  Christ- 
tian's  treasure,  and  heaven  the  appointed  place 
for  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  presence,  the  con- 
sequence is  natural : 


■ '  Contemplation  is  his  bliss." 


After  hearing  a  sermon  Mrs.  Savage  thus 
expresses  herself:  "I  endeavoured  to  do 
some  little  in  the  excellent  duty  of  meditation. 
The  subject  was  concerning  Christ.  Surely 
here  is  a  large  field.  What  think  ye  of  Christ  ? 
A  subject  preached  on  at  Nantwich,  long  ago, 
by  my  dear  father,  of  blessed  memory.  It  is 
of  great  consequence  and  necessary  for  all  to 
reflect  what  their  thoughts  are  of  Christ. 
Some  do  not  know  him,  nor  think  of  him  at 
all.  Some  think  meanly,  others  think  hardly 
of  him. — But  ask  a  sincere  believer,  and  he 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  123 

thinks  Iilm  the  brightness  of  his  Father's  glory 
— the  fairest  of  ten  thousand.  A  mirror  of  un- 
paralleled love  thus  to  die  for  sinners — 
enemies.  But  that  which  most  affects  me  is,  to 
think  that  he  is  my  beloved,  and  my  friend  ; 
He  wliom  I  have  known,  chosen,  loved,  and 
desired  to  serve,  and  please  in  all  things ;  and 
wherein  I  fail,  I  mourn  and  grieve.  O  that  I 
could  thus  think  of  him,  and  demean  myself 
to  him.  He  is  my  '  all  and  in  all,'  both  for 
justification  and  sanctification — sufficient  for 
me  both  here  and  for  ever." 

In  one  place  her  practice  is  thus  recorded : 
"  In  the  evening  I  endeavoured,  with  a  little 
success,  to  meditate  on  the  great  privilege  of 
adoption.  Behold  what  inanner  of  love  the 
Father  hath  bestowed  upon  us,  that  we  should 
be  called  the  sons  of  God  !  One  sweet,  excel- 
lent remark  of  worthy  Doctor  Manton  is  this 
— '  That  a  child  is  not  discarded  or  cast  ofT 
for  every  offence,  as  a  servant  may  be,  but 
he  is  borne  with,  and  made  the  best  of." 
Methinks  this  thought  comforts  me  against 
daily  infirmities.  This  night,  on  my  bed,  I 
had  satisfaction  in  these  meditations :  If  God 
be  my  Father  I  shall  want  no  good  thing.  I 
shall  have  boldness  in  the  day  of  judgment. 


124  MEMOIBS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

Wherefore  should  I  fear  if  the  judge  be  my 
Father,  and  my  Friend  '?" 

On  another  occasion  thus:  "Nov.  lOlh, 
Sabbath.  In  the  afternoon  I  stayed  at  home 
alone.  The  first  hour  I  was  very  dull  and 
lifeless:  afterwards  I  set  myself  to  meditate 
on  the  four  last  things — Death — Judgment — 
Heaven — IIcll.  The  tiiought  of  these  brought 
some  warmth  to  my  aflections.  How  sweet 
is  it  when  I  think  of  death,  to  think  that  it 
will  be  my  friend.  It  may  be  near.  If  so, 
the  will  of  the  Lord  be  done.  To  die  will  be 
gain.  All  things  are  mine,  whether  death  or 
life.  As  for  judgment,  I  have  reason  to  hope 
the  Judge  will  be  my  Advocate ;  when  I 
think  of  hell — to  have  that  within  me  which 
says — through  grace,  this  belongs  not  to  me. 
And  then,  for  the  happiness  of  heaven  ;  when 
I  think  of  it — it  is  hard  to  believe  that  such 
poor  services  should  have  so  rich  a  reward. 
But  this  he  does  like  a  king — he  gives  it  to  all 
them  that  are  made  meet  for  that  inheritance." 

Again;  "Brought  in  safety  to  one  Sabbath 
more.  The  light  I  see  is  the  Lord's.  This 
morning  I  read,  in  course,  in  my  closet,  Psalm 
cviii.  Methinks  some  passages  in  it  did  help 
to  raise  my  meditations  of  the  happiness  and 
glory  of  heaven.     There  and  there  only,  will 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  125 

the  heart  be  fixed  upon  the  work  of  pi-aise. 
Then  no  diversion  from  it  nor  distraction  in 
it.  Then  there  will  be  a  perfect  delivery 
from  every  thing  that  offends.  Then,  indeed, 
our  enemies  shall  be  trodden  down.  There 
will  be  no  devil  to  tempt,  no  corrupt  heart  to 
bo  drawn  aside.  If  I  could  keep  my  heart  in 
a  believing  sight  and  expectation  of  that  glory, 
it  would  quicken,  strengthen,  and  enlarge  me 
in  all  holy  obedience." 

On  retiring  in  the  evening  to  her  closet,  she 
frequently  said — "  Courage,  my  heart,  now  one 
day  more  of  a  vain,  vexing  world  is  gone,  and 
one  day  nearer  heaven." 

Love  to  prayer,  has  ever  distinguished  the 
children  of  God,  and  it  did  not  fail  to  do  so  in 
the  present  instance.  If  one  Christian  privil- 
ege was  pre-eminently  valued  by  Mrs.  Savage, 
it  was  prayer — serious,  spiritual,  importunate 
prayer.  She  frequently  remarked — '  Prayer 
is  a  salve  for  every  sore — a  remedy  for  every 
malady.'  "  I  have  often,"  she  writes,  "  expe- 
rienced prayer  to  be  heart's  ease.  Oh,  what 
a  sweet  privilege  is  it  to  have  such  a  friend 
as  God,  to  whom  to  tell  all  one's  mind  !  A 
shame  that  I  do  not  more  improve  such  a 
privilege." 

Indeed  she  abounded  in  the  sacred  duty, 
11* 


126  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

and,  under  all  circumstances,  sought  an  asy- 
lum at  the  throne  of  grace.  "  I  had  a  letter," 
she  remarks,  "  from  Chester  with  heavy  ti- 
dings. This  occasions  grief  and  fear.  My 
heart  was  full :  my  remedy  is  to  retire,  and 
spread  the  letter  before  a  compassionate  Fa- 
ther, and  tell  him  how  it  is,  which  I  find  more 
easy  than  to  submit  freely  to  liis  all-wise 
disposal;  yet,  when  I  had  done  this,  I  was 
refreshed." 

"  This  week,"  she  writes  on  one  occasion, 
"  I  was  somewhat  thoughtful  about  changing 
servants.  God  in  mercy  order  it  for  the  best. 
I  committed  the  matter  to  him  by  prayer,  and 
then  I  was  easy  in  my  thoughts.  I  have 
often  had  experience  of  his  goodness  and  kind 
j)rovidence  going  before  me  in  this  matter. 
Forty  years  and  upwards  have  I  been  wander- 
ing in  this  wilderness,  and  hitherto  I  have 
lacked  nothing.     Praised  be  God  !" 

At  another  time  ;  "  I  was  at  Wrenbury  in 
the  afternoon.  The  subject  was  concerning 
Prayer.  Ask.  Seek.  Knock — noting  im- 
portunity. The  minister  especially  exhorted 
to  secret  prayer.  I  bless  God  for  the  comforts 
of  my  closet,  when  no  eye  sees  but  my 
heavenly  Father.  Oh  this  hidden  and  divine 
life,  which  I  have  lately  been  reading  of,  what 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  127 

a  blessed  life  is  it !  May  I  more  experiment- 
ally taste  the  sweetness  of  it.  I  must  own  I 
love  to  be  alone,  to  be  looked  on  by  my 
heavenly  Father,  who  sees  in  secret. 

His  is  a  pure,  and  searching  eye, 

Witness  to  all  that's  true  ; 
Dark  hell,  and  deep  hypocrisy. 

Are  all  before  his  view." 

Her  exalted  esteem  for  this  important  ex- 
ercise is  manifest  in  the  following  extract, 
from  one  of  her  latest  diaries.  "  I  was  guihy 
of  a  great  omission.  I  forgot  secret  duty  till 
about  noon.  I  then  retired.  I  well  may 
blush,  and  be  ashamed  of  my  folly.  Is  this 
like  one  that  delights  to  approach  unto  God  ? 
I  confessed  and  bewailed  this  with  tears,  and 
I  had  comfortable  hope  through  Christ,  my 
great  Mediator,  that  it  shall  not  be  laid  to  my 
charge.  I  trust  that  I  do  not  wickedly, 
though  often  weakly,  depart  from  God,  and 
duty.  My  dear,  kind,  heavenly  Father  con- 
siders our  frame.  He  is  always  mindful  of 
us,  though  we  are  not  so  of  him." 

Prayer  before  receiving  the  daily  provisions 
of  the  table  was,  in  Mrs.  Savage's  esteem, 
highly  necessary,  and  she  was  accustomed  to 
remark,  "In  craving  God's  blessing  upon  our 


128  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

food  there  sliould  be  the  same  seriousness  as 
in  otlier  acts  of  worship,  since  it  is  the  same 
God  we  address  ourselves  to."  How  forcibly 
does  this  thought  commend  itself  to  the  heart 
of  every  Christian  ! 

How  strongly  she  has  marked  her  Love 
of  the  Sabbath  and  Divine  Ordinaiices, 
may  be  seen  by  the  following  extracts.  The 
devotions,  the  instructions,  and  the  society  of 
the  sabbath,  greatly  endeared  it,  and  her 
preparation  for  its  a})proach  was  most  exem- 
plary. Indeed,  the  appointed  labours  of  the 
week  were  relieved  by  frequent  aspirations  to 
its  enjoyments  :  and  these,  by  elevating  and 
composing  the  mind,  gave  an  impetus  to  her 
native  fervour,  highly  serviceable  to  her  gene- 
ration, and  honourable  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 

"  I  would  not  forget,"  she  remarks,  "  a 
pretty,  affecting  verse  in  Mr.  (afterwards  Dr.) 
Watts's  Hymns : 

'  Failier,  my  soul  would  still  abide 
Within  thy  teni|)le,  near  tiiy  side  ; 
But  if  my  fuct  must  hence  depart 
Still  keep  thy  dwelling  in  my  heart :' 

it  is  often  the  secret  language  of  my  soul." 

Again  she  writes :  "  The  Lord  loves  the 
gates  of  Zion,  and  so  do  I.     My  conscience 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  129 

bears  mc  witness  that  I,  sometimes,  envy  the 
sparrows  and  swallows  who  are  where  I  can- 
not be.  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy 
house.  But,  alas  !  it  is  not  the  bare  enjoy- 
ment of  ordinances  that  avails  any  thing  if 
the  heart  be  not  spiritual,  and  heavenly,  so  as 
to  enjoy  God  in  them. — Herein  I  was  former- 
ly much  wanting,  so  that  the  Lord  is  right- 
eous in  cutting  me  short." 

On  another  occasion  thus :  "  Blessed  be 
God  for  the  return  of  this  holy  day — this 
queen  of  days  !  O  for  a  heart  to  improve  it 
to  spiritual  advantage.  I  purposed  to  have 
gone  to  church,  having  been  long  confined, 
but  was  hindered  by  wet  weather.  Wo  is 
me  that  I  am  cold,  and  hard,  and  want  those 
warming,  softening  influences  of  grace  which 
I  have  formerly  enjoyed.  But,  alas !  I  have 
not  improved  them  ;  and  yet  I  rejoice  in  what 
I  have  had — especially,  that  I  have  seen  the 
outgoings  of  my  God — my  king.  I  hope  the 
axe  of  the  word  was  laid  to  the  root  of  the 
tree  of  my  heart,  even  in  the  days  of  my 
youth.  And  blessed  be  God  for  the  help  I 
have  from  good  books.  He  can,  and  doth 
make  cold  meat  to  nourish.  Lord,  make 
providences  effectual  instead  of  ordinances, 
that  they  may  further  spiritual  growth.     Sure 


130  MEMOIKS    OF    MR£.    SAVAGE. 

tlic  impression  of  such  repeated  strokes  shall 
not  easily  wear  out." 

"  1G8S-9.  March  3.  Sabbath.  A  sweet 
day — spent  at  Broad  Oak — the  place  of  my 
solemnities — where  I  have  many  a  time  met 
with  God,  and  been  refreshed.  A  sacrament 
day.  My  preparation  was  slighty  and  dis- 
tracted. I  find  it  very  hard  to  have  my 
heart  in  any  measure  broken  for  sin.  There, 
in  that  sweet  ordinance,  our  gracious  Fatiier 
was  pleased  to  feast  us  his  poor  children. 
Towards  the  close  my  heart  was  a  little  revi- 
ved at  thoughts  of  being  for  ever  at  his  table 
in  glory.  It  is  good  being  here.  O,  but 
a  thousand  times  better  being  there.  I  came 
away  refreshed,  yet  that  night,  and  the  next 
day  I  was  dull  in  duty,  as  I  usually  am  after 
such  sweet  opportunities — to  my  shame." 

"  1G91.  Sabbath,  June  24.  Being  sacra- 
ment day  at  Nantwich  I  went  thither.  I  set 
out  pretty  early.  I  begged  the  presence  and 
blessing  of  my  good  God,  which  he  was 
pleased  to  afford  me.  Mr.  Lawrence's  sub- 
ject was  1  John  iv.  21,  That  he  who  loveth 
God  love  his  brother  also — concerning 
brotherly  love.  A  sweet  duty.  Christ 
places  it  next  to  the  first,  and  great,  com- 
mandment, and  makes  it  a  badge  of  disciple- 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  131 

ship.  John  xiii.  35.  I  am  verily  guilty  in 
tliis  concerning  my  brother.  This  day  I  liad 
some  sweet  communion  \vith  my  God  in  the 
ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Who,  and 
what  am  I — a  worthless  worm — that  I  should 
be  admitted  to  the  table  of  the  King  of  kings  1 
In  tlie  close  the  minister  spoke  of  vowing  our- 
selves to  God.  jNIy  heart  was  a  little  raised 
in  expressing  myself  in  that  vow  of  Jacob's, 
Gen.  xxix.  If  the  Lord  will  be  with  me,  and 
keep  me  in  this  way — the  narrow  way 
which,  by  his  grace,  I  will  walk  in — and 
give  me  bread  to  eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on 
— which  is  in  one  word — Christ,  who  alone 
is  both  the  food  and  raiment  for  precious 
souls — so  that  I  come  to  my  heavenly 
Father's  house  in  peace — even  that  an  abund- 
ant entrance  be  administered  unto  me  into 
that  everlasting  kingdom — Then  the  Lord, 
whom  I  have  this  day  avouched,  shall  be  my 
God,  and  I  shall  be  to  all  eternity  swallowed 
up  in  seeing  and  enjoying  him.  Amen.  I 
came  home  tired,  yet  inwardly  refreshed. 
How  soon  am  I  made  cool  again  by  this  pre- 
sent evil  world,  which  appears  my  enemy  in 
nothing  more  than  in  taking  off  the  edge  of 
my  allections  to  spiritual  things." 

On  another  occasion  she  writes — "  A  sac- 


132  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

ramcnt  day.  Yet  I  have  been  too  remiss  in 
preparation.  I  have  been  told  pains  should 
be  taken  to  trim  the  lamp.  But,  alas  !  I  am 
greatly  w^anting  here.  The  world  and  its 
concerns  take  up  my  thoughts  and  time,  and 
jostle  out  things  of  greatest  importance. 
Yet  I  dare  not  absent  myself  when  I  have  an 
opportunity,  lest,  when  the  King  comes  in  (as 
he  surely  doth)  to  see  the  guests,  he  be  dis- 
pleased if  my  seat  be  empty.  I  desired  the 
divine  presence,  which  he  was  graciously 
pleased  to  vouchsafe  me.  I  made  fresh  re- 
solves against  all  sin,  to  all  duty — even  hard 
duties  that  are  most  unpleasant  to  the  corrupt 
nature.  The  subject  concerning  the  return- 
ing prodigal — he  arose  and  came  to  his 
Father.  Lord,  to  whom  else  shall  I  go,  thou 
art  the  Lord  my  God.  The  true  convert 
yields  a  willing  subjection  to  God,  both  as  to 
what  he  will  do  with  us,  and  what  he  will 
have  us  to  do.  It  is  owing  to  the  grace  and 
goodness  of  God  that  any  sinners  are  brought 
home  to  him.  Though  we  are  joint  heirs 
with  Christ,  yet  not  joint  purchasers — he  trod 
the  wine-press  alone.  This  day,  through 
mercy,  not  drowsy.  Lord,  keep  me  from 
mine  iniquity." 

Again.     "  We  went  to  Nantwich,  to  renew 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  133 

OLir  covenant  at  the  Lord's  Supper.  I  Jiope 
I  found  much  sweetness,  having  afresh  re- 
nounced the  flesh  and  world,  and  devoted 
myself  to  God  and  Christ  with  full  purpose  of 
heart.  Amen.  Hallelujah !  Hath  my  dear 
Father  admitted  poor  me  to  his  table,  though 
most  unworthy  1  Shall  not  this  oblige  me  to 
duty  and  obedience !  The  exhortation  was — 
If  any  man  come  after  me,  and  hate  not  father 
and  mother,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple.  By 
hating,  here  is  meant  less  loving  My  love 
to  Christ  is  to  exceed  my  love  to  my  dearest 
relations.  I  have  this  day  seen  and  tasted 
how  he  has  loved  me — even  more  than  his 
own  life — and  shall  I  not  abound  in  love  and 
duty  to  him  ?" 

At  another  time.  "  Sabbath.  I  have  been 
this  day  favoured  with  a  sacramental  oppor- 
tunity. I  have  been  endeavouring  to  shew 
forth  the  Lord's  death.  I  had  this  meditation 
— I  must  shew  it  to  God  as  the  purchase  of 
my  peace  and  pardon.  Lord,  this  is  my  be- 
loved Saviour.  I  must  shew  it  forth  to  my 
own  soul.  Behold  here  is  blood,  and  it  was 
shed  for  me.  Here  is  a  spotless  righteousness 
— and  it  is  mine.  I  must  shew  it  forth  to 
others.  I  have  eaten  and  drunk  into  that 
great  body  of  which  Christ  is  the  head,  and  I 
12 


134  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

look  upon  the  meanest  of  his  members  as  my 
brethren — tlie  excellent  of  the  earth,  in  whom 
is  my  delight.  Let  me  walk  this  week  as  one 
who  has  this  day  had  communion  with  the 
Father  and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ." 

In  more  advanced  life  she  writes: — *'  Sab- 
bath. I  had  all  good  helps.  The  subject  was 
Rev.  xxii.  14.  Blessed  are  they  that  do  his 
commandments,  that  they  may  have  right  to 
the  tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  in  through  the 
gates  into  the  city.  Methinks  it  is  comforta- 
ble to  have  this  blessing  in  the  close  of  the 
Bible.  Though  I  cannot  say  I  do  them,  yet  I 
endeavour  it,  and  if  I  reallv  knew  what  would 
displease  God,  I  would  not  do  it,  but  endeav- 
our the  contrary.  It  was  an  excellent  note 
of  good  Mr.  Mottershead  long  ago — We 
wTestle  not  with  flesh  and  blood,  said  he,  only, 
yet  witli  these  daily.  I  often  find  the. flesh, 
the  earthly  part,  my  great  hindcrance,  as, 
particularly,  this  Lord's  day.  By  the  time  I 
come  to  the  assembly,  methinks  I  am  not  my- 
self— not  the  same  that  I  was  in  the  closet — 
but  so  dull,  unafiected — a  disinclination  to  any 
thing  that  is  spiritual  and  heavenly  :  sometimes 
I  lay  the  blame  on  my  declining  age,  and  de- 
cay of  bodily  spirits,  but  alas !  I  fear  it  is 
worse;  owing  to  my  spiritual  sloth — in  a  cold, 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  135 

dull  frame  at  tlie  Lord's  tabic,  yet  I  endeav- 
oured to  renew  my  covenant  against  all  sin — 
to  all  duty." 

*'  1708.  April  25th,  Lord's-day.  We  went 
to  Nantwich,  where  we  had  the  comfortable 
ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Our  Lord 
Jesus  hath  instituted  it  purposely  to  keep  in 
remembrance  his  death,  knowing  how  apt  we 
are  to  forget  him ;  and  though,  to  a  carnal  eye, 
it  looks  a  mean  thing,  yet  to  those  who  are 
savingly  enlightened,  it  has  another  aspect. 
Who  can  but  be  aflected  with  it,  to  think  that 
my  dear  Lord  Jesus,  in  the  night  wherein  he 
wasbetrayed,  when  hebegan  his  most  bitter  pas- 
sion, yet  was  so  mindful  of  us,  and  our  com- 
fort, as  to  institute  this  ordinance  ?  Blessed 
be  God  for  any  sweetness  my  soul  has  at  any 
time  found  in  it.  Mr.  Lawrence's  subject  was, 
Phil.  iii.  11.  Press  toward  the  mark.  It  is 
our  great  duty  to  be  daily  groAving,  and  press- 
ing forward  in  that  which  is  good.  Sure  I 
am  I  have  many  eyes  on  me.  Some  praying, 
and  exhorting,  that  I  may  hold  on,  and  get 
forward  in  heaven's  way.  Others,  that  would 
rejoice  in  my  fall ;  but  my  comfort  is,  though 
I  am  weak  and  foolish,  careless  and  lukewarm, 
yet  my  God  is  able  to  supply  all  my  wants, 
and  has  undertaken  to  preserve  all  that  belong 


136  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

to  iiim  (as  I  trust  I  do)  safe — safe  to  liis  hea- 
venly kingdom.  Oh  tiiat  this  hope  may  quick- 
en me  to  holy  obedience !" 

But  although  she  often  enjoyed  much  sweet- 
ness in  holy  ordinances,  yet,  it  must  not  be 
supposed  she  was  always  upon  '  the  mount.' 
She,  like  other  Christians,  was  not  without 
tryingcxpcricnce.  By  divine  grace,  however, 
she  usually  was  enabled  to  '  hold  fast  her 
confidence.'  She  thus  writes: — "  What  a 
hard,  stupid  heart  have  I,  that  I  am  not  affec- 
ted with  the  love  of  my  dear  Jesus  to  my  soul, 
This  Sabbath  is  an  instance. — 'O  fool,  and 
slow  of  heart.'  When  I  should  have  been 
meditating  on  redeeeming  love,  and  getting 
my  heart  alTected  with  it  at  the  Lord's  Supper ; 
then  my  heart  was  so  heavy  with  sleep,  and 
I  so  dull,  and  out  of  frame,  that  I  was  like  a 
stock,  or  a  stone.  It  is  a  matter  of  grief  and 
shame  to  me  in  reflection,  that  I  have  so  trifled 
away  such  a  sweet  opportunity.  In  the  close 
I  was  a  little  raised.  The  exhortation  was 
from  the  92d  Psalm,  Those  that  be  planted  in 
the  house  of  the  Lord  shall  flourish  in  the 
courts  of  our  God.  The  subject  of  the  day 
was  concerning  brotherly  love,  from  James  v. 
20,  Converteth  a  sinner.  O  that  I  might  more 
manifest  that  I  am  of  the  body   by  a   fellow- 


MEMOIK.S    OF    MRS.  SAVAGE.  137 

feeling  with  the  members,  especially  by  being 
solicitous  for  their  souls." 

Again  ;  "  We  had,  at  noon,  a  sacramental 
opportunity.  Blessed  be  God,  The  King  sit- 
teth  at  his  tabic,  but  doth  my  '  spikenard  send 
forth  its  smell  V  Alas !  No.  I  fear  my  de- 
sires were  not  right.  Much  coldness,  and  dis- 
traction. Yet,  I  trust,  I  did  receive  Christ, 
though  with  a  trembling  hand  ;  and,  as  the 
bread  and  wine,  which  I  have  eaten,  are  so 
mine,  as  never  to  be  again  separated  from  me, 
so  is  Christ  thereby  set  forth,  and  applied  to 
my  soul.  For  I  am  persuaded  that  neither 
life,  nor  death,  shall  be  able  to  separate  me 
from  his  love.     Amen." 

In  illustrating  the  piety  and  devotion  of  this 
excellent  woman,  her  attentive  Revieiu  of 
Mercies  received  should  not  be  overlooked. 
In  this  department  of  Christian  wisdom,  so 
eminently  distinguished  in  the  Scriptures,  she 
was  a  proficient.  She  well  understood  the 
'  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord.' — The  following 
are  edifying  specimens. 

"  1714.  June.  When  I  look  back  to  the 
year  1686,  wherein  I  first  began  this  account 
of  myself,  it  is  with  the  remark  of  that  bles- 
sed apostle — having  obtained  help  of  God  I 
continue  to  this  day.  Hitherto  supported,  com- 
12* 


138  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

forted,  carried  on  through  storms  and  difficul- 
ties, so  as  still  to  be,  in  some  measure,  press- 
ing forward.  Not  unto  me,  not  unto  me. 
Free  grace  shall  hav^e  all  the  glory.  I  was 
then  little  more  than  twenty,  now  almost  fifty 
years  of  age.  I  have  entered  my  declining 
years.  Finding  those  that  look  out  of  the 
windows  begin  to  darken,  I  am  obliged  to  use 
glasses.  I  find  my  strength  fails.  Yet,  as  to 
these  infirmities,  several  things  comfort  me — 
They  are  only  natural,  and  common,  not  hast- 
ened by  my  own  sin,  and  folly — I,  otherwise, 
enjoy  a  very  great  measure  of  health,  and 
can  be  in  any  post  of  usefulness,  not  having 
been  confined  to  my  bed  or  chamber  for  almost 
three  years.  But,  the  greatest  support  of  all 
is — the  good  hope  of  everlasting  rest — that 
when  my  earthly  tabernacle  shall  be  dissolved, 
I  shall  have  a  heavenly  mansion  provided  for 
me,  where  I  shall  see  God,  and  my  glorious 
Redeemer,  and  enjoy  them — and,  though  how, 
or  in  what  manner  this  shall  be  we  are  not 
sure,  yet  the  thing  itself  is  clear,  as  if  written 
with  a  sun-beam.  Not  all  the  powers  of  earth 
and  hell  shall  be  able  to  break,  or  make  void, 
one  link  of  that  glorious  golden  chain.  More- 
over, whom  he  did  predestinate,  them  he  also 
called ;    and  whom  he  called,  them  he  also 


JrEMOmS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  139 

'justified  ;  and  whom  he  justified,  them  he  also 
glorified.  What  though  the  flesh  perish,  and 
be  worms'  meat,  yet  the  better  part  will  be 
secured  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  will  not 
lose  one  grain  of  the  dust  of  any  of  his  dear 
people,  but  will,  by  his  power,  raise  them  up — 
so  that  soul  and  body  shall  be  united,  and  be 
together  for  ever  with  the  Lord.  Amen. 
Hallelujah  !  Establish  thy  word  unto  thy  ser- 
vant on  which  thou  hast  caused  me  to  hope.  I 
am  not  ashamed,  for  I  know  in  whom  I  have 
trusted,  and  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I 
have  committed  unto  him  against  that  day." 

Again.  "  1730,  Feb.  15.  I  have  had  such 
plentiful  experience  of  the  goodness  of  God 
to  me  through  all  the  way  in  which  he  hath 
led  me  in  this  wilderness,  that  I  cannot  but 
think  it  a  duty  to  leave  an  acknowledgment 
of  it  under  my  own  hand,  for  the  quickening 
and  encouragement  of  my  dear  children  and 
grand-children  who  have  this  evil  world  to 
pass: 

'  A  dangerous  and  tiresome  place.' 

"  I  heartly  subscribe  to  that  sweet  truth, 
'  that  a  holy,  heavenly  life,  spent  in  the  service 
of  God,  and  communion  with  him,  is  the  most 
pleasant  and  comfortable  life  in  the   world.' 


140  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

I  liavc  found  that  wisdom's  "ways  are  wavs 
of  pleasantness,  and  desire,  as  one  of  my 
chiefest  mercies,  to  mention  my  unspeakable 
liappiness  in  a  religious  education.  My  pa- 
rents were  of  the  first  three*  for  piety,  and 
their  good  instructions,  earnest  prayers,  and 
.excellent  examples,  are,  at  this  distance  of  time, 
blessed. — Though  they  are  long  since  out  of 
the  reach  of  prayer,  yet  God  is  not  out  of  the 
reach  of  praise." 

"  I  fmd  in  the  life  of  a  good  man  (Ilalybur- 
ton),  that  besides  his  will  as  to  temporal  con- 
cerns, he  thought  proper  to  leave  something 
on  record  of  his  sentiments  concerning  religion. 
I  freely  deolare  I  came  into  the  world  a  defiled, 
polluted  branch  of  the  first  Adam,  tainted  with 
original  corruption — a  child  of  wrath.  And 
I  must  own  it  was  infinite  mercy  that  laid 
hold  of  me,  discovered  me  to  myself,  changed 
and  renewed  me,  or  else  I  had  been  lost  for 
ever.  I  owe  it  to  the  infinite  mercy  of  my 
gracious  God  that  lie  has  revealed  his  Son  in 
me — the  only  Mediator  between  God  and 
man.  I  trust  only  to  his  infinite  merits  and 
satisfaction.  None  but  Christ.  None  but 
Christ.  And  if  I  had  as  many  souls  as  1  have 
bail's  on  my  head,  I  durst  venture  them  all  on 

*  See  2  Samuel  xxiii.  23. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  141 

that  sure  foundation.  This  I  account  a  faitii- 
fiil  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation — 
that  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save 
sinners,  of  whom  I  am  the  chief.  The  71st 
Psahn,  being  the  aged  (Christian's  prayer  and 
song,  I  think  very  api>licable : 

'  At  thy  command  I  venture  down 
Securely  to  the  grave.' 

*'  Though  my  flesh  must  see  corruption,  yet, 
I  trust  in  that  almighty  Power  which  raises 
from  the  dead,  and  that  in  the  great  day  I 
shall  be  set  on  the  right  hand,  and  be  publicly 
owned,  and  acknowledged,  though  infinitely 
unworthy  such  a  favour.  I  know  that  my 
Redeemer  liveth.  Above  all,  I  should  desire, 
as  Mr.  Baxter  did,  those  words  of  my  risen 
Lord  to  be  written  on  my  sick  and  death  bed 
— I  ascend  to  my  Father  and  your  Father,  to 
my  God  and  your  God." 

"  Sarah  Savage." 

"  Wrenbury  Wood." 

Another  record  of  the  same  kind  is  dated 
1734.  "  Finding  decays,"  she  writes,  "  espe- 
cially in  my  memory,  I  think  it  not  improper 
to  leave  this  testimony  under  my  hand  of  that 
kind  Providence  which  has  followed  me  all 
my  days.     I  think  the  employing  of  my  wri- 


142  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

ting  faculty  this  way  is  a  duty  which  God 
may  expect  from  me,  since  I  must  own  that  it 
is  a  pleasure  to  me,  which  some  who  could  do 
it,  are  averse  to. 

"  In  the  IGth  year  of  my  age  I  was  admit- 
ted to  the  Lord's  table.  I  took  the  covenant 
of  my  baptism  upon  myself.  I  made  it  my 
own  act  and  deed  to  join  myself  to  the  Lord, 
and  I  have  since  found  unspeakable  comfort 
that  my  early  days — the  male  in  the  flock, 
were  dedicated  to  his  service.  I  have  often 
repeated,  but  never,  repented,  this  choice. 

"  I  think  I  may  say  I  had  my  roots  watered 
with  wine.  Such  sweet  seasons  of  grace. 
Line  upon  line.  The  best  helps  for  my  soul. 
Surely  I  should  reckon  this  among  my 
choicest  mercies.  I  have  my  lot  cast  where 
I  have  not  only  gospel  light,  but  all  advanta- 
ges— exhortations — encouragements — to  im- 
prove this  light,  and  to  be  enlightened  by  it. 
How  much  am  I  indebted  !  Such  powerful 
preaching,  sweet  sabbaths,  comfortable  sac- 
raments. 

"  I  think  I  should  not  overlook  the  great 
mercy  I  had  in  those  years  by  bodily  health 
— not  one  day's  sickness  in  twenty  years — I 
had  comfort  in  the  society  of  friends,  and 
dear   relations.     We   dwelt   tocrethcr  in   the 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  143 

greatest  unity.  I  had  excellent  helps  by 
good  books — the  lives  of  holy  persons  of  both 
sexes.  These  1  am  sure  may  be  placed  in 
the  account  of  my  mercies. 

"  The  most  signal,  eminent  mercy  of  God 
to  me  was  in  the  great  turn  of  my  life,  when 
I  was  married,  March  28,  1687,  to  one  every 
way  a  help-meet  for  me.  I  was  enabled,  in 
some  measure,  by  divine  grace,  for  the  duties 
of  that  state,  and  I  had  abundance  of  the  com- 
forts of  it.  All  praise  to  the  God  of  my 
mercies. 

"  In  the  year  1688,  I  was  brought  safely 
through  the  small-pox,  after  wdiich  my  dear 
father  led  us  in  a  family  thanksgiving.  He 
preached  from  John  v.  14.  Thou  art  made 
whole,  sin  no  more.  I  would  reckon  the  fre- 
quent lectures  we  then  had,  among  my  mer- 
cies. I  hope  some  good  was  done,  and  the 
house  was,  as  I  thought,  perfumed  by  the 
good  prayers  offered  in  it. 

"  The  end  of  that  year  my  first  daughter, 
Sarah,  was  born,  and  suitable  mercies  were 
afforded  to  us  both.  After  her  I  had  six  liv- 
ing children — three  taken,  three  left — Dear 
Philip  spared  to  his  22d  year,  then  taken  by 
the  small-pox.     I  shall  go  to  them. 

"Another  considerable  mercy  to  me  has 


144  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

been  the  marriage  of  all  my  four  daughters 
suitably,  and  with  consent,  and  to  those  who 
fear  God,  and  have  a  competency  in  the 
world.  All  of  them  fruitful  vines,  and  nursing 
mothers.  Especially,  that  I  see  some  of 
theirs,  as  they  grow  up,  serious,  with  their 
faces  heaven-ward." 

"  I  think  I  may  reckon  among  my  mercies 
the  supports  I  have  had  under  sharp  afflic- 
tions: an  only  son  taken  in  the  flower  of  his  age, 
1721 — my  dear  husband  in  September,  1729, 
suddenly  removed — Yet  my  God  lias  taken 
that  care  of  me  which  the  dearest  relations 
could  not  have  done,  had  they  been  spared. 
Since  I  have  been  in  the  widowed  state,  still 
goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me. 

*'  The  health  I  have  in  my  old  age  is,  sure- 
ly, a  great  mercy. 

'  His  mercy  crowns  my  growing  years.' 

"  I  have  the  use  of  reason,  and  peace  in  my 
own  conscience,  those  ur)sj)cakable  blessings. 
How  much  am  I  indebted  !     Ebene/.er." 

Mrs.  Savage's  pious  commemoration  of  her 
birth-day  deserves  particular  notice.  In  1704, 
it  is  thus  expressed  : 

"Now  forty  years  I  have  been  in  this  wil- 
derness.    I  have  not  wanted  the  pillar  of  cloud 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  145 

and  fire  for  guidance  on  my  way.  I  have  had 
manna — bread  from  heaven — and  that  for 
many  years,  of  the  finest.  The  rock,  Christ, 
to  drink  of,  and  be  refreshed.  Tliou  gavest 
thy  good  Spirit  for  my  teacher  and  comforter. 
But  that  which  I  would  be  especially  thankful 
for  is — the  Canaan — the  rest  that  is  to  come, 
and  for  any  comfortable  hope  of  an  interest 
in  it.  Yet  that  which  damps  and  allays  my 
joy  and  comfort  is — my  wilderness  sins — my 
manifold  murmurings  and  provocations.  Had 
not  my  Lord  Jesus,  my  dear  Moses  and  great 
intercessor,  stood  in  the  gap  to  stay  the  stroke 
of  divine  justice,  it  had  not  been  with  me  as 
now  it  is.  There  is  a  Jordan,  it  is  true,  be- 
tween me  and  the  heavenly  Canaan,  but, 
through  grace,  I  will  not  fear  it.  The  God  of 
peace  will  make  me  more  than  a  conqueror 
over  the  last  enemy." 

The  next  year  she  writes :  "  Aug.  7th.  I 
must  remember  the  mercy  of  God  in  my  birth ; 
now  I  am  forty-one.  A  great  while  to  live  to 
so  little  purpose.  I  bless  my  God  who  en- 
dued me  with  a  reasonable  soul,  and  a  perfect 
complete  body,  strong  and  healthy,  especially 
when  I  was  a  child.  I  have  been  told  that 
my  mother  nursed  me  with  less  trouble   than 

any  of  her  children." 

13 


148  MEMOinS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

"  I  desired  this  evening,  in  my  secret  duty, 
to  be  more  than  ordinary  in  earnest  with  God 
for  her — that  showers  of  blessings  may  fall 
upon  her — that  God  would  bless  her,  and 
fulfil  all  her  petitions,  both  for  herself  and  us : 
and  though  my  dear,  thrice  dear  and  honour- 
ed father,  is  out  of  the  reach  of  my  prayer, 
yet  I  desire  to  send  hearty  praises  to  God  for 
him,  and  the  great,  unspeakable  privilege  I 
had  to  be  born  of  such  parents — for  all  the 
sweet  counsels,  reproofs,  example,  sermons, 
prayers,  expositions — and  for  what  sweetness 
there  has  been  in  his  pious  discourses,  and  also 
his  pathetic  letters — by  all  which  he  endea- 
voured to  make  religion  the  most  necessary, 
excellent, amiablethingthatcould  be.  Though 
I  think  it  sad  that  he  was  so  soon  and  sudden- 
ly removed,  yet  it  was  a  mercy  he  was  so 
long  continued  in  usefulness — and  that  his 
very  name  has  a  good  savour  to  all  that  knew 
him.  God  grant  that  I  may  follow  him  here 
in  the  regeneration,  that  I  may  meet  him  with 
comfort  in  the  great  day." 

At  another  time,  Aug.  7th,  1723,  she  thus 
expresses  herself ;  "What  a  long  time  have 
I  wandered  in  the  wilderness  of  this  world, 
yet  lacked  nothing — nothing  needful,  or  good 
for  mc.     Mcthinks  I  have  abundant  reason  to 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  147 

own  the  kindness  of  my  heavenly  Father  as 
to  my  better  part.  When  I  removed  hither, 
I  yet  remember  my  fear  and  trembling,  lest  I 
should  wither  and  decay  in  grace,  in  the  want 
of  the  opportunities  I  had  always  enjoyed. 
But  how  has  my  kind  God  been  gracious 
herein,  above  what  I  could  have  hoped. 
Blessed,  and  kept,  and  taught.  Surely  I 
should  be  very  thankful  for  a  competency  in 
the  world — free  from  the  snares  of  riches  and 
poverty.  Methinks  among  my  sweetest  en- 
joyments I  would  reckon  good  books,  which  I 
have  found  very  profitable  and  good  company, 
often,  in  my  solitude.  I  was  lately,  much 
aflected  in  reading  Deut.  x.  5 ;  speaking  of  the 
tables  of  the  Covenant  which  Moses  put  into 
the  ark,  it  is  added — '  and  there  they  be.'  On 
which  the  annotations  thus  enlarge :  "  We 
may  say  to  the  rising  generation — we  have 
had  the  benefit  and  comfort  of  bibles,  sabbaths, 
sacraments,  &c.,  and  we  leave  them  you — 
there  they  be — as  we  received  them  from  our 
parents.'  I  trust  Jesus  Christ  will  have  his 
faithful  witnesses  in  all  ages,  and  that  the  gates 
of  hell  shall  never  be  able  to  ])revail  against 
his  church.  I  own  I  am  ready  to  sign  a  dis- 
charge in  full,  that  there  has  not  failed  to  me 
one  good  thing  of  all  that  God  has  promised, 


149  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

either  pertaining  to  this  life,  or  a  better.  And 
now,  what  doth  the  Lord  my  God  require  of 
me,  as  Deut.  x.  12  ?  It  is  in  one  word — obe- 
dience. I^ord,  1  would  be  obedient,  but  I 
find  myself  often  pulled  back.  I  cannot  do 
the  good  I  would.  I  remember  the  years  past, 
what  advantage  I  found  by  solemn  meditation, 
which  now  I  find  so  great  aversion  to ;  but  I 
do  purpose,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  practise 
it  more  now,  in  the  beginning  of  this  new  year 
of  my  life.     Lord,  help  me  herein." 

"  To  be  SPIRITUALLY-MINDED  is  life  and 
peace."  Experience  proves  it.  JMeditation 
on  heavenly  things  will  occasion  little  inter- 
ruption to  customary  avocations;  while  the 
frequency  of  the  exercise  contributes,  in  no 
small  degree,  to  advance  growth  in  grace,  as 
well  as  to  discover  the  present  attainments  of 
believers.  "  It  is,"  observed  the  excellent 
Caryl,  "  a  great  part  of  our  holiness  to  be 
spiritually-minded  while  we  are  conversing 
with  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  in  spiritual 
duties.  But  to  be  spiritually-minded  and  to 
mind  spiritual  things,  when  we  are  conversing 
with  the  clods  of  the  earth,  and  the  furrows 
of  the  field ;  when  we  have  to  do  with  corn 
and  grass,  with  trees  and  plants,  with  sheep 
and  oxen  ;  when  we  behold  the  birds  and  fowls 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  149 

of  the  air,  the  worms  and  all  that  creep  upon 
the  n:roun(l — Then,  I  say,  to  be  s})iritually- 
muided,  ami  thence  to  have  our  thoughts  as- 
cending and  soaring  up  to  God,  in  hearl-affec- 
ting  and  quickening  contemplations,  witness- 
eth  a  high  degree  of  holiness.  To  make  a 
ladder  out  of  earthly  materials,  for  the  raising 
of  ourselves  in  spirit  to  heaven,  is  the  art  of 
arts.  Holy  and  happy  indeed  are  they  who, 
being  taught  of  God,  have  learned  this  art, 
and  live  in  the  daily  practice  of  it."* 

Mrs.  Savage's  residence  in  the  country  was 
thus  improved,  and  her  diary  abounds  with 
numerous  instances  illustrative  of  the  prece- 
ding remarks.  The  following  have  been 
selected. 

"  My  child  being  weak  and  unable  to  take 
its  food,  I  am  forced,  at  present,  to  have  a 
nurse  in  the  house.  By  my  unconcerned- 
ness  at  the  crying  of  her  child,  in  compari- 
son with  my  own,  I  cannot  but  sometimes 
think  of  the  pity  and  tenderness  of  my 
heavenly  Father  towards  his  children.  He 
hearkens  attentively  to  their  cry,  whereas  the 
prayer  of  the  wicked  is  an  abomination  to 
him." 

"  We  had  Mr.  Lawrence's  little  boys  with 

*  Flavel's  Husbandry  Spiritualized. 
13* 


150  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

US,  and  when  I  consider  their  great  loss  of  a 
pious,  tender  motlicr,  my  heart  moves  in  pity- 
to  them.  From  whence  I  cannot  but  infer 
the  pity  and  tenderness  that  is  in  the  heart  of 
the  Father  of  mercies  towards  those  who  arc 
the  seed  of  his  friends  and  followers.  For, 
alas !  what  are  our  compassions  compared 
with  his?" 

*'  Monday.  Overhearing  a  servant,  being 
weary,  w^ishing  earnestly  for  night,  that  she 
might  rest,  I  could  not  but  be  aflbctcd.  Surely, 
if  I  was  thoroughly  weary  of  this  world, 
which  is  so  full  of  toil,  labour,  and  sorrow,  I 
should  long  for  the  rest  of  death,  when  my 
body  shall  sleep  in  the  grave,  and  my  spirit 
return  to  God  who  gave  it." 

"  The  coals  coming  to  the  fire  with  ice 
upon  them,  at  first  seemed  as  though  they 
would  put  out  the  file,  l)ut  afterwards  they 
made  it  burn  more  fiercely.  I  had  this  medi- 
tation. It  is  often  so  with  me.  That  which 
seems  against  me  is  really  for  me. — Have  not 
afilictions  worked  for  my  good?  Sometimes 
I  have  gone  to  an  ordinance,  as  these  coals  to 
the  fire,  all  cold  and  frozen,  and  there  I  have 
been  melted.  My  love  and  desire  have  been 
inflamed.  That  it  hath  not  oftener  been  so, 
has  been  my  own  fault." 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  151 

"  Seeing  other  creatures  clean  and  white 
in  the  same  i)lace  where  the  swine  were  all 
over  mire,  I  thought  it  did  represent  good  and 
bad  men  in  the  same  place ;  the  one  defiled 
by  the  same  temptations  which  the  others 
escape,  through  the  grace  of  God,  and  watch- 
fulness." 

"  An  old  tree  in  the  garden  was  removed. 
We  were  afraid  it  would  not  grow  in  its  new 
place.  I  could  not  but  take  occasion  to  bless 
God  that  he  was  pleased,  in  my  tender  years, 
to  transplant  me,  and  to  take  me  from  the 
common  of  a  natural  estate,  into  his  own  gar- 
den. The  time  was  a  '  time  of  love.'  Lord, 
how  is  it?  Wherefore?  What  saw^est  thou 
in  me  to  move  thee  ?  Nothing  but  misery. 
The  greater  was  the  mercy.  Oh  that  I  may 
bring  forth  fruit  to  God !" 

"  Walking  in  the  garden  I  had  tiiis  medita- 
tion. Seeing  some  young  trees,  which  have 
all  had  the  same  soil,  the  same  planting,  tiie 
same  watering,  yet,  some  blossoming  and 
flourishing — others  scarcely  alive,  it  cannot 
but  make  me  think  of  the  difference  that  there 
is  in  the  growth  of  professors  under  the  same 
means  of  grace.  In  my  Father's  family,  how 
did  I  see  some  that  were  planted  after  me  far 
more  fruitful  God-ward.     This  I  reflect  upon 


152  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

with  shame.  This  comforts  me — tliat  I  am  a 
branch  in  Christ,  and  all  such  he  will  purge, 
that  they  niay  bring  forth  more  fruit,  accord- 
ing to  that  Scrij)ture,  John  xv.  2.  I  have  to- 
day been  reading  how  Christ  is  the  way  to  the 
Father,  namely,  to  acquaintance,  acceptation, 
relation,  reconciliation,  with  him.  The  way 
to  the  performance  of  his  promises,  and  to 
the  possession  of  his  kingdom.  All  sweet,  un- 
speakable privileges  belonging  to  those  to 
whom  Christ  is  the  way." 

"  By  observing  the  flowers  in  the  garden, 
which  yesterday  spread  themselves  in  the 
sun,  to-day,  in  the  want  of  that  luminary, 
close  and  melancholy,  I  see  the  need  1  have 
of  the  warm  influences  of  the  blessed  Sun  of 
Righteousness,  without  which  my  graces  will 
soon  languish." 

"  Being  employed  in  the  garden,  I  was 
aflected  to  see  how  much  the  weeds  come  on 
faster  than  the  plants  and  herbs.  Just  so  do 
corruptions  thrive  and  grow  in  my  soul.  Yet 
this  comforts  me — the  herbs,  most  of  them, 
are  better  rooted  than  the  weeds ;  they  are 
not  so  easily  pulled  up.  The  good  part  shall 
not  be  taken  away.  If  I  am  growing  on  the 
root — Christ — no  man  shall  ever  be  able  to 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  153 

pull  me  thence — kept  by  the  power  of  God  to 
salvation," 

*'  I  was  affected  lately  when  I  saw  our 
newly-sown  garden,  which  we  had  secured  so 
carefully,  as  we  thought,  from  fowls,  and  had 
closely  covered  it,  yet  receive  as  much  hurt 
by  the  unseen  mole,  which  roots  up  and  de- 
stroys. Lord,  grant  this  be  not  the  case  of 
my  poor  soul.  Many  good  seeds  are  sown. 
Line  upon  line — Daily  hearing  or  reading 
some  good  truths.  And,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  with  my  good  education,  I  have  been 
kept  from  gross  sins,  but  I  have  great  reason 
to  fear  the  unseen  mole  of  heart-corruption, 
pride,  covetousness.  These  work  secretly, 
but  dangerously  !  Lord,  do  thou  undertake 
for  me." 

"  On  Saturday  my  dear  came  home  safe. 
Praised  be  God.  The  same  watchful  eye  is 
over  him  abroad,  and  over  us  at  home.  Our 
joy  at  meeting,  though  after  a  short  absence, 
was  mutual  and  great.  I  fear  lest,  at  any 
time,  it  exceed  bounds.  This,  in  the  reflec- 
tion, makes  me  think  of  the  great  joy  that 
there  will  be  when  all  the  espoused  members 
of  Christ  shall  be  gathered  together  to  him, 
their  crreat  husband — to  be  for  ever  with  the 


154  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

Lord.  The  thoughts  of  it  sometimes  refresli 
me." 

"Finding  my  sight  much  decayed,  so  that 
I  cannot  read  a  hue  without  glasses,  I  had 
this  thought :  Surely  this  is  a  call  to  me  to 
spend  more  time  in  meditation  and  prayer, 
which  are,  sometimes,  best  performed  when 
the  eyes  of  the  body  are  shut." 

"  The  slow,  gradual  approach  of  the  sun, 
that  is,  the  shadow  of  it,  in  my  chamber,  re- 
minds me  of  the  old  observation — We  tower 
up  to  heaven  by  a  thousand  ascents  in  the 
slow  proficiencies  of  grace— yet  if,  at  last,  I 
can  attain,  all  will  be  well." 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  155 


CHAPTER  III. 

Her  Removal  to  West  Bromicich,  and  Death. 

How  long,  after  the  death  of  her  husband, 
Mrs.  Savage  continued  at  Wrenbury  Wood, 
is  not  certainly  known  ;  but  on  leaving  that 
place,  she  sojourned,  for  a  season,  with  her 
children  and  friends.  It  was  not  till  the  year 
173G  that  she  removed  to  West  Bromwich, 
and  it  was  her  tinal  abode.  The  change  will 
be  best  expressed  in  her  own  words. 

"  Tuesday,  September  7th.  I  take  leave 
of  Wem,*  particularly  of  this  closet,  humbly 
desiring  to  leave  a  blessing  behind  mc  on 
them  and  all  theirs,  entreating  that  all  the 
prayers  that  have  been,  or  shall  be,  offered  up 
here  may  be  graciously  heard,  and  answered, 
for  Christ's  sake.  Next  morning  I  set  for- 
ward for  Bromwich,  not  without  some  degree 
of  fear  and  trembling,  lest  I  should  not   be 

*  The  residence  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Holland,  the  wife  of 
the  Rev,  Mr.  Holland,  a  Dissenting  Minister. 


156  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

able  for  such  a  journey  ;  yet,  I  bless  God  for 
some  degree  of  courage,  and  cheerfulness. 
We  slept  at  Newport.  Next  day  came 
hither  in  safety.  AH  my  bones  shall  say. 
Lord,  who  is  like  unto  thee  ?  I  take  this  as 
an  answer  to  prayer.  And  now  1  am  here. 
Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?  I  am 
encouraged  to  find  some  good,  praying  peo- 
ple, with  whom  I  hope  to  spend  a  happy  eter- 
nity. I  observe  that  when  old  Jacob  w-ent 
down  into  Egypt,  God  told  him  that  Joseph 
should  close  his  eyes.  So  it  may  be  that  my 
child  here*  may  do  the  last  office  for  me.  If 
so,  I  beg  my  precious  soul  may  be  safe  ;  then, 
all  is  well." 

In  this  situation,  freed  from  the  cares  of 
business,  she  spent  the  residue  of  her  days 
in  diligent  preparation  for  heaven. 

It  pleased  God,  however,  to  prolong  her 
earthly  existence  a  considerable  time. 

While  here,  she  was  favoured  with  a  visit, 
which  she  thus  records. 

"  1737.  May  23d,  Monday  night.  We 
were  surprised  by  the  coming  of  an  unexpect- 
ed friend — Dr.  Doddridge.  I  have  been  often 
pleased  and  edified  by  his  books,  but  I  never 
expected  to  have  conversed  personally  with 
*  Mrs.  Witton.    She  died  JXoveniber  3d,  1775,  a;t.  74. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  157 

hiin.  I  now  find  such  a  happy  mixture  of 
piety,  sweetness,  and  humihty,  as  niucli 
atHects  me." 

She  often  adverts  to  the  advanced  period 
to  which  her  days  had  been  lengthened,  in 
terms  1  ike  the  following. 

"  1738.  March  14.  O  that  I  may  be 
some  way  useful  even  in  old  age  !  I  am  will- 
ing to  continue  here  while  God  pleases,  but 
my  settled  judgment  is,  to  desire  to  depart, 
and  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far  better.  I 
see  my  children's  children,  and  peace  upon 
Israel." 

"  18th.  Looking  out  at  my  window  I  see 
Bromwich  church,  where  that  excellent  man 
Mr.  Reynolds  was  buried.  I  have  desired 
that  my  bones  may  be  laid  by  his,  especially 
that  I  may  stand  with  him  at  Christ's  right 
hand  in  that  day." 

"  20th.  Though  alone,  I  am  not  lonely.  I 
can  delight  in  a  pen  and  a  book,  and  opportu- 
nity to  devote  myself  to  God.  My  best 
Friend  sees  in  secret.  I  am  comforted  under 
decays  of  nature  when  I  think  of  the  future 
glory.  This  morning  I  was  refreshed  by  re- 
membering these  particulars  of  a  sermon  of 
my  dear  brother's.  Characters  of  the  true 
friends  of  Christ.  ♦  They  visit  him — value 
14 


158  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS,    SAVAGE. 

hiin — and  vindicate  him  ;  welcome  him,  wait 
for  him,  and  walk  with  him  : — they  lay  all 
iheir  concerns  at  his  feet — they  love  all  iiis 
friends — they  long  for  his  second  appearance 
in  glory.'  This  is  my  beloved  and  my 
friend." 

*•  1742.  April  10.  My  kind  Master  will 
not  cast  off  a  poor  old  servant.  It  is  a  good 
remark  of  Dr.  Watts's — that  '  to  a  pious  per- 
son old  age  is  but  as  a  summer's  evening.' 
O  that  mine  may  be  so  !" 

"  1742.  April  15.  Saturday  night.  I  am 
desirous  to  prepare  for  the  approaching  Sab- 
bath and  sacrament.  I  find  some  comfort 
from  that  old  verse, 

"  The  Lord  can  tell,  he  knows  full  well 
The  thoughts  we  entertain." 

"  I  would  be  better,  and  do  better.  A  kind 
providence  has  followed  me  all  my  days,  par- 
ticularly, in  bringing  me  to  this  place  to  finish 
life  so  comfortably — where  I  have  so  many 
advantages  both  for  soul  and  body." 

The  following  memorial  of  the  illness  and 
death  of  a  neighbour,  though  brief,  is  interest- 
ing. 

"  1741.  January  20th.  This  day  we  had 
discouraging  tidings  of  our  friend  John  Hick- 


MEMOIRS    OP    MRS.  SAVAGE.  159 

COX,  fearing  that  he  is  wearing  oiT.  It  is 
comfortable  to  think  that  I  shall  not  stay  long 
behind,  but,  especially  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever.  It 
pleased  me  to  see  in  a  small  note  from  him 
latelv  that  he  styled  himself  '  Your  comforted, 
afflicted  friend.'  Our  God  has  cordials  for 
his  afflicted  servants." 

"  May  22.  This  morning  our  good  friend 
J.  II. — (whom  we  have  so  long  prayed  for) 
died.  The  precious  soul  received  into  those 
blessed  mansions,  which  he  has  been  so  long 
expecting,  and  preparing  for.  We  had  hoped 
he  should  yet  have  been  continued  for  useful- 
ness here.  But  God  said — No — And,  there- 
fore, it  is  fit  we  should  submit." 

Nor  is  the  grateful  recollection  of  providen- 
tial kindness  to  our  nation  less  pleasing, 

1743.  November  5th.  She  writes,  "  My 
good  God  still  renews  his  mercies  to  me, 
but,  alas !  how  dull  and  cold  am  I  in 
thankfulness.  The  mercies  of  this  day  to 
this  nation,  though  so  long  since,  should  not 
be  forgotten.  We  are  still  a  Protestant  peo- 
ple. Nothing  was  blown  up  but  the  treason. 
None  were  executed  but  the  traitors.  This 
was  the  Lord's  doing.  Old  mercies  should 
be  remembered  with  new  thankfulness." 


160  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

A  life  spent  in  the  fear  of  God,  in  the 
active  exercise  of  tiiose  graces  which  dignify 
the  Christian  character,  must  terminate  well. 
From  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth  have 
we  heard  songs,  even  glory  to  the  righteous. 

Mrs.  Savage's  views  of  death  were,  in  gene- 
ral, cheering,  and  she  was  commonly  enabled, 
through  her  whole  course,  to  regard  the  '  last 
enemy'  as  disarmed  and  conquered.  On  one 
occasion  she  thus  expresses  herself.  "  I  was 
at  home  all  day.  I  find  going  out  will  not 
agree  with  my  present  condition.  Yet  I 
would  be  very  thankful  that  it  is  not  with  me 
as  formerly  in  these  circumstances.  My  good 
God  grants  me  the  use  of  my  limbs.  As  to 
future  events  I  humbly  submit  to  his  will.  My 
times  are  in  thy  hand.  My  two  last  confine- 
ments were  accompanied  with  mourning  on 
account  of  the  death  of  dear  relations,  and 
which  of  us  death  will  next  strike  at  we  know 
not.  But,  blessed  be  God,  it  is  a  serpent 
without  a  sting.  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting? 
I  trust  I  can  cheerfully  bid  farewell  to  all  that 
is  dear  to  me  on  earth,  knowing  that  my  best 
Friend  is  in  heaven,  where  he  ever  lives  and 
reigns — and  he  has  prayed  that  all  his  may  be 
with  him.     Amen. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  161 

"  O  glorious  hour  I  O  blessed  abode ! 
I  shall  be  near,  and  like  my  God! 
And  flesh  and  sin  no  more  control 
The  sacred  pleasures  of  my  soul!'  " 

Another  lime  thus.  "Lord's  day  spent  in 
solitude.  In  tlic  morning  I  was  chastened 
with  pain.  I  thought — what  if  it  should 
increase  and  be  a  messenger  of  death.  I  did 
not  fear  it.  I  thought  of  that  excellent  trans- 
lation of  Psalm  Ixxiii. : 

'  What  if  the  springs  of  life  were  broke, 

And  flesh  and  heart  should  faint? 
God  is  my  soul's  eternal  rock, 
The  strength  of  every  saint  I ' 

Surely  there  is  no  reason  to  fear." 

In  an  illness  wherein  she  expected  to  die, 
her  faith  and  hope  were  strong;  mentioning 
the  particulars  in  her  diary,  she  says,  "  I 
was  not  well.  I  apprehended  symptoms  of  a 
fever,  and  I  record  it  to  the  praise  of  God's 
Grace,  that  I  had  but  little  fear  of  death.  The 
next  morning  I  was  well  again :  my  heaven- 
ly Father  but  shook  his  rod."  A  little  after 
she  thus  proceeds  :  "  This  week  I  thought 
sometimes  of  that  passage  in  Daniel  xii.  13. 
'  But  go  thou  thy  way.'  A  sweet  Scripture. 
The  prophet  Daniel  is  dismissed,  and  promised 
a  comfortable  retreat.  Mcthinks  I  should  like 
14* 


162  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

this  text  for  my  funeral  sermon.  Death  is  a  rest 
from  our  labours ;  my  body  shall  rest  in  the 
grave;  my  soul  in  heaven."  In  that  illness 
being  asked  whether  she  wanted  any  thing,  she 
replied,  "  I  do  not  want  peace  of  conscience 
and  hopes  of  a  better  world." 

Her  meditation  on  her  latter  end  was  fre- 
quent and  famihar,  and  in  reading  good  books 
she  particularly  noticed  what  was  calculated 
to  remove  the  '  pain  of  dying.'  The  following 
are  a  few  instances. 

"  The  Communion  of  Saints  is  an  article 
of  our  creed,  and  a  very  desirable  one  in  this 
imperfect  state.  It  will  be  much  more  so  in 
that  state  of  perfection.  And,  indeed,  the  en- 
joyment of  those  in  the  other  world  whom  I 
so  dearly  loved  here,  is  that  which,  sometimes, 
in  my  serious  thoughts,  does  a  little  sweeten 
the  thought  of  death  to  me." 

"  I  read  part  of  an  old  discourse  of  dear 
brother  Henry's  concerning  Sabbath  sanctifi- 
cation.  He  had  this  argument :  It  would  help 
to  prepare  for  death  to  consider — If  it  be  hard 
to  get  out  of  the  world  for  one  day,  when  we 
shall  so  soon  return  to  it  again,  surely  we  shall 
find  it  hard  to  get  out  and  not  return.  I  en- 
deavoured to  meditate  a  little  on  death — It  is 
the  last  enemy — but   it  is  a  conquered  one. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  1G3 

It  is  but  welcome  death,  and  farewell  death — 
for  ever.  Oh  that  I  may  experience  the  first 
resurrection,  and  then  the  second  death  sliull 
have  no  power." 

"  Saturday  morning  I  was  weak  and  spirit- 
less. In  the  afternoon  I  read  some  of  my 
New  England  History ;  a  book  which  often 
sw-eclly  entertains  me.  To-day  I  was  affect- 
ed with  a  passage  respecting  Mr.  James 
Noyse,  p.  148.  He  said  he  felt  the  whole 
frame  of  nature  giving  way,  which  threatened 
his  dissolution  to  be  at  hand.  But,  he  thank- 
ed God,  he  was  not  amazed  at  it.  Truly  I 
cannot  but  often  think  the  same  of  myself,  yet 
I  avoid  speaking  of  it  lest  I  should  be  thought 
fanciful.  But  I  would  make  this  use  of  my 
frequent  infirmities.  O  that  the  blessed 
angels  may  be  ready  to  meet  my  departing 
soul.  '  When  his  present  state,'  observes  Mr. 
Howe, '  shall  be  considered  by  a  saint  in  glory, 
what  a  change  !  What  would  I  once  have 
given  for  a  steady,  abiding  frame  in  holiness  : 
for  a  heart  constantly  bent,  and  biassed  to- 
wards God  ;  constantly  serious,  tender,  lively, 
watchful,  heavenly,  spiritual,  meek,  humble, 
cheerful,  self-denying.  How  have  I  cried 
and  strove  for  this,  to  get  such  a  heart.  How 
oft   have   I   spread    this    desire    before   the 


164  MEMOIRS    OF    MR.S.    SAVAGE. 

Searcher  of  hearts — Turn  me  out  of  all  my 
worldly  comforts,  so  thou  give  me  but  such  a 
heart.  What  indignation  have  I  sometimes 
conceived  against  my  own  soul  when  I  have 
found  it  wandering,  and  could  not  reduce  it ; 
hovering,  and  could  not  fix  it ;  dead,  and 
could  not  quicken  it ;  low,  and  could  not 
raise  it.  How  earnestly  have  I  expected  this 
blessed  day  when  all  these  distempers  should 
be  perfectly  healed,  and  my  soul  recover  a 
healthy,  lively,  spiritual  frame." 

"  Sabbath.  This  week  I  read  part  of  a 
sermon  by  Mr.  Grosvenor  at  the  funeral  of  a 
Mrs.  lludge,  one  of  his  society,  an  aged 
widow.  He  styles  it  '  Precious  Death.'  At 
p.  20,  he  has  this  excellent  remark :  '  Since 
the  steps  of  a  good  man  are  ordered  by  the 
Lord,  surely  he  will  order  this  last,  this  most 
important  step,  the  step  from  one  world 
to  another.'  It  is  a  long  step.  Methinks  1 
should  be  very  thankful  for  this  good  soul- 
food.  The  Lord  will  not  sutler  the  soul  of 
the  righteous  to  famish.  Blessed  be  his  name. 
Afterwards  he  proceeds. — '  Tiie  death  of  a 
saint  brings  honour  to  Christ.  I  undertook 
for  him  (may  the  Redeemer  say)  and  here  he 
is.  I  have  led  him  through  the  wilderness  of 
this  world,  and  I  have  now  brought  him  to 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  165 

the  gates  of  the  grave.  I  will  not  leave  iiim 
there,  but  will  keep  him  company  tiirough  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  It  is  my  busi- 
ness to  see  that  he  takes  no  harm.'  How 
comfortable  is  it  to  be  able,  on  a  death-bed, 
to  say — Lord,  I  venture  my  all  on  the  efficacy 
of  thy  grace,  and  the  unfailing  certainty  of 
thy  covenant.  On  this  have  I  built  all  my 
hopes,  and  on  the  same  bottom  I  will  now 
venture  my  departing  soul.  I  know^  whom  I 
have  trusted.  It  is  no  new,  no  unusual  thing 
for  me  to  give  myself,  body  and  soul,  unto 
thee.  It  is  what  thou  knowest  I  have  often 
done.  Father,  into  thy  hands  I  commend 
my  spirit.  I  know  I  cannot  comfortably  do 
it  at  death,  if  I  do  not  sincerely  do  it  now. 
The  excellent  saint,  Mr.  Grosvenor  speaks  of, 
had  much  comfort  in  her  last  hours,  though 
in  her  life-time  she  leaned  much  to  the  doubt- 
ful side.  The  nearer  she  came  to  her  end  the 
more  her  assurance  grew.  At  length  these 
words  dropped  from  her :  '  I  thank  God  I 
have  no  clouds  nor  fears  remaining.'  From 
that  time,  he  observes,  '  we  stood  round  the 
dying  as  curious  spectators  to  see  and  ob- 
serve, how  heaven  met  the  travelling  soul  on 
its  way — to  learn  to  die — to  see  religion  in 
some  of  its  grandeur — to  see  a  mortal  triumph 


160  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAOE. 

over  death,  and,  through  faith  and  patience, 
more  llian  a  conqueror.  And,  alter  she  had, 
with  the  majesty  of  an  ancient  patriarch, 
given  the  last  admonitions  and  blessings  to 
the  several  branches  of  her  family,  she 
waited,  to  use  her  own  words,  but  a  little 
while  for  '  leave  to  die.'  When  in  her  last 
sickness,  the  minister  asked  her  what  he 
should  more  particularly  desire  of  God  for 
her,  she  answered  ;  '  Pray  for  patience  to 
bear  the  pains  and  troubles  of  sickness — for 
pardon  of  all  sins — and  the  evidence  of  that 
pardon,  acceptance  with  God  in  the  beloved, 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  a  welcome  recep- 
tion into  his  presence."' 

It  was  not  needful,  though  had  it  been 
consistent  with  infinite  wisdom,  it  would  have 
been  for  edification,  that  Mrs.  Savage  should 
have  left  this  world,  enjoying  those  cheering 
manifestations  which  have  shed  a  lustre  upon 
some  favoured  believers.  A  sudden  death 
does  not  admit  of  it.  The  words  of  a  saint, 
whose  soul  is  just  ready  to  take  flight  to 
heaven,  are  peculiarly  impressive,  but  they 
are  not  the  test  of  our  judgment.  The  life 
is  the  best  evidence  of  ])iety.  What  Mrs. 
Savage's  was  we  have  seen.  Her  hoary  hairs 
were  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness,  and 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  1G7 

her  end,  though  not  triumphant,  was  serene, 
and  lia{)py.  The  event  will  be  best  related 
in  the  words  of  her  niece,  Miss  Hannah 
Tylston,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend. 

"  My  dear  aunt  Savage  died,  February 
27th,  1752,  and  in  a  good  old  age  (almost 
eighty-eight,)  was  gathered  to  her  people. 
Her  death  was  sudden.  She  dropped  mortality 
without  being  herself  sensible  of  the  change, 
till  she  found  herself  in  the  world  of  light, 
among  the  number  of  spirits  made  perfect — 
the  world  to  which  she  was  allied,  and  formed 
to  the  temper  and  disposition  of.  She  had 
lived  a  holy,  cheerful  life  ;  made  religion  her 
business,  her  choice  early  ;  and  she  was  an 
ornament  to  her  profession,  through  all  the 
different  scenes  and  periods  of  it.  She  was 
useful,  beloved,  meek,  humble,  charitable. 
She  is  gone  to  receive  her  reward — ^joined  by 
the  society  she  loved.  May  I  ever  remember 
such  examples  as  these,  to  quicken,  animate, 
and  encourage  me  in  the  Christian  warfare, 
since  I  have  by  experience  known  how 
happy  all  thy  servants  are.  May  my  soul 
be  gathered  with  theirs.'' 

Her  mortal  remains  were  deposited  in  the 
church-yard  at  West  Bromwich,  in  sure  and 
certain  hope  of 'the  resurrection  to  eternal  life.' 


168  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

The  funeral  sermon  was  preaciicd,  March 
15th,  1752,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Howell,  Dis- 
senting Minister  at  West  Bromwich,  from 
Daniel  xii.  13.  "  But  go  thou  thy  way,  till  the 
end  be ;  for  thou  shalt  rest,  and  stand  in  tiiy 
lot  at  the  end  of  the  days" — a  text  of  her  own 
choosing.     The  discourse  was  never  printed. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 


1G9 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Miscellaneous  Extracts  from  her  Diary,  be- 
tween ilie  years  1688  and  1732. 

1688.  December  8.  Saturday  night. — I 
spent  a  little  time  in  looking  over  my  papers 
of  this  kind,  finding  how  it  hath  formerly 
been  with  me.  I  have  just  cause  to  fear 
decays  in  grace,  because  I  do  not  watch 
over  the  motions  of  my  heart  so  strictly  as 
formerly.  Wo  is  me.  Do  I  go  backward 
instead  of  forward  ?  O  Lord,  strengthen  thou 
the  things  which  remain.  This  evening  I  was 
a  little  refreshed  with  a  passage,  in  a  letter 
from  a  friend,  speaking  of  the  providence  of 
God  thus—  It  is  not  only  tender,  but  parti- 
cular. He  gives  his  angels  cliarge  over  me. 
A  host  of  angels  about  one  Elijah. 

1089.  September  10.  I  read,  in  course, 
]\Iicah  iv.  I  found  many  sweet  prophetical 
passages  concerning  the  enlai'gement  of  the 
gospel  church.  "  The  mountain  of  the  Lord's 
house  shall  be  established  on  the  top  of  the 
15 


170  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

mountains."  A  thing  I  have  often  prayed 
for — that  Christ's  kingdom  might  be  ujipcr- 
most ;  and  though  I  may  not  hve  to  see  it, 
yet  I  steadfastly  beheve  it  shall  be  in  God's 
due  time. 

12th.  My  dear  mother,  together  with 
brother  and  sister  Hulton,  came  to  see  us. 
Stayed  all  night.  Next  day  returned.  I  was 
much  pleased,  and  refreshed  with  their  com- 
pany, but,  alas  !  how  do  such  pleasures  pass 
away — perish  in  the  using  !  At  parting,  my 
mother  prayed  with  us.  Sister  Hulton  left 
with  me  that  Scripture,  Lam.  iii.  26.  It  is 
good  both  to  hope  and  quietly  wait.  Oh,  I 
want  this  quietness  of  spirit,  but  I  do  cast  my 
care  upon  God.  If  it  be  good  for  me  he  will 
bear  me  up  under  my  burden  to  the  appointed 
time ;  if  otherwise,  I  submit.  I  will  endea- 
vour that  there  shall  not  be  a  murmuring 
heart. 

IGOO.  April  11.  Wednesday,  I  was  pre- 
sent at  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Kirks,  at  Chester. 
Brother  preached  immediately  after,  on  Luke 
xvi.  9. — "  that  when  ye  fail."  Death  is  a  fail- 
ing.    This  nio-ht  mv  father  came  to  Chester. 

Thursday.  My  father  preached,  and  bap- 
tized brother  Henry's  child  Elizabeth,  in  the 
face  of  a  full  assembly.     God,  hear  prayers 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  171 

for  it,  and  make  it  a  brancli  of  thy  family. 
Tills  night  wc  all — sisters  and  brothers — 
slept  at  brother  Henry's,  where  afterwards, 
wc  went  up  to  sister's  chamber,  and  my 
fatiicr  prayed  with  his  ten  children. — Blessed 
be  God  wliohath  once  brought  us  all  together 
in  this  world,  but  the  great  time  of  gathering 
is  to-  come. 

Saturday.  After  I  had  a  few  days  seen 
and  enjoyed  my  dear  relations  we  must  part. 
It  is  very  probable  it  may  be  long  before  we 
again  meet,  but  as  to  that  I  am  not  very  soli- 
citous. My  three  sisters  are  all  near  an  hour 
of  peril  and  danger.  I  have  prayed  for,  and 
commended  them  to  God.  In  better  hands 
they  cannot  be.  Now  I  will  wait  for  a  good 
issue.  We  came  home  safe,  but  I  was  verj- 
weary.  When  I  reflect  on  the  five  days  past, 
it  cannot  but  be  with  regret  and  sorrow  that 
I  have  not  performed  this  long  intended  jour- 
ney after  a  godly  sort.  I  have  not  done,  nor 
gotten  the  good  which  I  might.  Little  com- 
numion  with  God  in  secret.  Oh  that  I  might 
now  regain  lost  time.  My  gracious  God  was 
also  with  our  family,  so  that  we"  find  all  well 
at  our  return.  My.  child  well  and  hvely,  in 
answer  to  prayer.  How  much  am  I  indebt- 
ed !     Behold  he   hath   been  careful   for   me 


172  JIEMOIUS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

with  all  this    care,  and  what    small    returns 
have  I  made  ! 

Sabbath,  July  19.  I  went  in  the  morning 
to  Nantwich,  it  being  sacrament  day.  Little 
time  spent  in  preparation.  But,  this  morning 
I  read  the  last  chapter  of  Matthew,  concern- 
ing the  resurrection  of  my  Lord.  Methought 
the  7th  verse  very  much  affected  me — "  He 
goeth  before  you  into  Galilee,  there  shall  ye 
see  him."  I  trust  he  goes  before  me  this  day, 
and  will  be  in  yonder  assembly,  where  I  shall 
see  him,  according  to  the  desire  of  rny  soul. 
Mr.  Lawrence  preached  in  the  morning  on 
Rom.  i.  16. — "  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ."  There  is  no  reason  to  be  ashamed 
of  it,  but  rather  to  glory  in  it,  because  it  is 
*  the  gospel  of  Christ,'  and  also,  '  the  power 
of  God  to  salvation.'  It  is  a  mean  of  salvation 
by  the  power  of  God  going  along  with  it. 
At  noon  he  administered  the  sacrament.  lie 
was  very  lively  and  sweet.  I  came  away  re- 
freshed. In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Edglcy 
preached  :  a  young  man  whom  my  father  has 
been  training  up  among  the  sons  of  the  pro- 
phets. Oh  that  the  spirit  of  Elijah,  or  rather 
of  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah,  might  rest  on 
these  Elishas,  that  they  may  be  pillars  in  the 
temple  of  my  God.     His  subject  vi'as  Matt. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.   SAVAGE.  173 

xi.  28.  '  Come  unto  mc'  To  which  my  soul 
answers,  Behold;  I  come  unto  thee,  for  thou 
art  the  Lord  my  God.  I  returned  at  night, 
but  I  iiad  not  that  time  for  self-examination 
and  reflection  which  was  needful. 

1602.  Jan.  24th.  I  did  not  rise  so  early 
as  I  should.  The  weather  very  cold,  and  my 
heart  cold  also.  How  weak  is  my  heart  to 
every  thing  that  is  good.  What  reason  have 
I  to  be  thankful  for  the  comforts  of  this  life 
that  I  enjoy,  that  I  am  not  wandering  about 
to  beg  my  bread.  Sometimes  this  w^cek  my 
heart  has  been  a  little  raised  in  secret  duty  ; 
at  other  times  as  cold  as  a  stone. 

29th.  I  had  a  letter  and  comfortable  tidings 
from  my  dear  father,  as  also  four  directions 
how  to  keep  warm  within  in  this  cold  season. 

1.  '  Get  into  the  Sun,  that  is,  Christ.  Under 
the  beams  of  this  blessed  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness there  are  warmth  and  comfort. 

2  Walk  to  the  fire,  that  is,  the  word  of  God. 
'  Is  not  my  word  like  fire  V  How  many  w  arm- 
ing, comforting  passages  are  there. 

3.  Keep  in  motion,  and  action.  Stirring  up 
ourselves,  and  the  gift  and  grace  of  God  that 
is  in  us. 

4.  Christian  converse  and  communion. 
'  How  can  one  be  warm  alone  V 

15* 


174  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

Alas !  Wo  is  me,  I  have  not  the  opportu- 
nity for  Christian  society  which,  formerly,  I 
had ;  but  my  comfort  is,  that  the  blessed  Spirit 
of  God  is  not  tied  to  work  by  means.  God  is 
able  to  make  all  grace  abound  in  me  according 
as  my  need  shall  be. 

March  30.  We  sung  in  the  family,  at  night, 
the  close  of  Psalm  cxlv.  Them  that  love 
him  will  the  Lord  preserve  in  every  place. 
At  this  my  soul  catches.  I  trust  I  am  of  the 
number  of  those  who  love  him  ;  and  though 
I  am  remote  from  many  of  my  dear  relations, 
and,  which  is  worse,  from  ordinances  of  wor- 
ship, yet,  in  this  place,  my  God  can,  doth,  will 
preserve  me. 

April  3.  Sabbath.  This  being  a  Sacra- 
ment day  at  Nantwich  we  designed  to  have 
joined  there,  but  were  prevented  by  ill 
weather.  However,  my  good  God  sends  me 
refreshing  truths,  when  I  wait  at  wisdom's 
gates,  in  my  closet.  This  morning  I  read  an 
exposition  on  Judges  v.  31.  So  let  all  thine 
enemies  perish.  God  and  his  people  have 
joined  interests — his  enemies  are  theirs — 
theirs  are  his.  I  thank  thee,  O  Father,  for 
this  sweet  word  this  morning.  The  worst 
enemies  I  have  in  the  world  are  my  own  cor- 
ruptions.    If  my  enemies,  then  thy  enemies. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  175 

So  let  tlicin  perish.  So — as  Sisera  and  his 
host,  by  an  immediate  hand  from  heaven  when 
means  failed.  So — irrecoverably.  So  as 
not  to  rally  again  ;  but  this  must  not  be  while 
I  am  in  this  world  ;  yet,  if  my  God  will  assist 
me  to  subdue,  and  keep  them  under,  it  shall 
be  well.  This  day  we  had  no  preaching  at 
Wrenbury.  In  the  afternoon  we  went  to 
Baddely.  Heard  Mr.  Barnct  on  Mark  i.  3. 
*  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord.'  They  must 
prepare  to  receive  Christ  coming  in  the 
fiesh  ;  we  to  receive  him  coming  in  the  spirit. 
— Come,  thou  sweet  Jesus,  take  up  thine  abode 
with  me. 

May  29.     Sabbath.     I  was  called  up  early 

to  Eiiz.  S ,  in  perilous  circumstances,  but 

safely  and  speedily  the  mother  of  a  living  child. 
Blessed  be  God !  I  have  not  been  enough 
thankful  for  the  mercy  of  my  birth.  In  the 
afternoon  I  went  to  church.  Mr.  Oliver 
preached  on  Rom.  ii,  4.  respecting  the  ill  use 
that  is,  and  the  good  use  that  should  be,  made 
of  the  patience  of  God. 

1693.  April  20.  Thursday.  I  heard  bro- 
ther Henry  on  Gen.  xxx.  2.  '  Am  I  in  God's 
stead  V  Doctrine.  No  creature  is  or  can  be  to 
us  in  God's  stead.  God  may  be  instead  of  all 
creatures.     Lord,  teach  me  this  good  lesson. 


176  MEMOIRS    OF    MKS.    SAVAGE. 

Friday.  Brother  Henry's  little  child  (Mary) 
began  to  be  ill. 

Saturday.  About  noon  she  died.  A  short 
race  soon  run.  Not  quite  three  weeks  old. 
The  first  tliat  I  ever  saw  die.  O  that  I 
may  by  it  learn  the  sinfulness  of  original  sin. 

Sabbath.  April  23.  Brother's  subject, 
Rom.  V.  14.  '  Nevertheless  death  reigned 
from  Adam  to  Moses,  even  over  them  that 
had  not  sinned  after  the  similitude  of  Adam's 
transgression' — viz.,  infants.  The  discourse 
was  concerning  the  dominion  and  reign  of 
death.  A  thing  that  I  find  nature  is  shy 
of  thinking  of,  but  it  is  profitable  One  of  the 
uses  which  I  took  special  notice  of  was  this 
— Get  from  under  the  I'eign  of  sin,  and  submit 
to  the  reign  of  Christ,  and  you  need  not  fear 
the  reign  of  death.  But  that  which  he  espe- 
cially insisted  on  was  the  reign  of  death  over 
infants,  which  is  proved  by  sad  experience. 
In  the  close,  the  directions  he  gave  to  parents 
that  have  children  thus  snatched  away,  were 
four  scriptures. 

Gen.  xliii.  14.  '  If  I  be  bereaved  of  my  chil- 
dren, I  am  bereaved.' 

1  Sam.  iii.  18.  '  It  is  the  Lord — let  him  do 
what  seemeth  him  good.' 

2  Kings  iv.  20.     '  It  is  well.' 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  177 

Job  i.  21.  '  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord 
hath  taken  away.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  tlic 
Lord !' 

Sept.  Gth.  My  dcnr  mother  came  to  give 
us  a  visit.  She  brought  good  tidings.  The 
voice  of  joy  and  rejoicing  is  in  the  habitation 
of  my  dear  relations,  and  in  mine.  Praised 
be  God.  Brother  Henry,  having  been  slan- 
dered by  a  malicious  person  as  if  he  was 
overseen  in  drink,  made  his  appeal  to  the 
magistrates  of  the  town,  when  his  innocen- 
cy  was  made  to  appear  as  the  light,  and 
his  adversaries  made  ashamed,  and  forced  to 
acknowledge  their  fault ;  wherein  God  is  to 
be  acknowledged,  who  not  only  takes  care 
of  the  persons  of  his  servants,  but  also  of 
their  names,  and  reputation.  This  was  on 
September  3d. 

December  20th.  Wednesday.  My  mother's 
maid  from  Broad  Oak  came  to  see  us.  She 
brought  me  a  comfortable  letter  from  my 
dear  father,  wherein  he  reminds  me  of  a  pass- 
age he  had  newly  read  that  morning  in  the 
family.  1  Thess.  v.  24.  '  Faithful  is  he  that 
callcth  you,  who  also  will  do  it.'  Query.  What 
will  he  do?  Answer.  That  spoken  of  ver. 
23.  sanctify  me  throughout,  and  preserve  me 
blameless    to    his    holy   kingdom.     Further, 


178  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

What  will  he  do?  What  will  he  not  do? 
This,  he  adds — He  will  never  leave  you,  nor 
forsake  you.  When  you  go  down  into  the 
darksome  valley  he  will  be  with  you — his  rod 
and  his  staff  shall  comfort  you.  Amen.  This 
coming  from  an  ambassador  of  Christ,  I  take 
as  a  consolatory  message  from  heaven,  and  I 
desire  to  act  faith  on  it.  Blessed  be  God. 
His  consolations  are  not  to  me  small.  The 
interest  I  have  in  the  prayers  and  affections 
of  my  dear  parents  is  comfortable,  but  what 
is  this  compared  with  the  intercession  of  my 
great  High  Priest — -.Tesus  Christ — who  is  pass- 
ed into  the  heavens  for  me— seeing  he  ever 
liveth,  (which  no  friend  on  earth  doth)  to  make 
intercession  for  me  ? 

1694.  March  13.  My  God  still  continues 
to  me  the  mercy  of  sabbaths  :  he  is  not  want- 
ing to  me.  I  was  at  church  morning  and 
afternoon.  Mr.  Oliver's  subject,  Rom.  ii.  13. 
'  Not  the  hearers  of  the  law  are  just  before 
God.'  Religion  is  an  inward  thing.  Lord, 
search  me  and  try  me,  and  help  nie  to  look 
within,  that  my  heart  may  be  sound  and  sin- 
cere. I  am  heavy  and  dull.  Lord,  w^hen  shall 
I  serve  thee  without  weariness  ?  I  sec  reason 
to  fear  some  quickening  providence.  Father, 
fit  me  for  thv  will. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  179 

Thursday.     We  had  a  private  day  at  Mr. 

Backet's  to  seek  God  for  that  afflicted  family. 
Two  sons  not  well.  Mr.  Lawrence  preaciied 
on  Psahn  xxxix.  5.  *  Verily  every  man  at  his 
best  estate  is  altogether  vanity.' — Hebrew, 
Every  man  when  settled.  Oh  that  I  was 
more  thoroughly  convinced  of  this  great 
truth,  that  I  may  act  accordingly. 

June  4th.  Monday.  My  husband  having 
business  at  Peover,  and  I  having  long  design- 
ed a  journey  thither,  we  went,  where  we  stay- 
ed till  Wednesday.  Kindly  entertained,  but 
especially  satisfied  in  personal  acquaintance 
with  Mrs.  Calvert,  having  conversed  together 
by  letter  seven  years,  but  we  nev^er  saw  each 
other  till  now.  I  hope  she  is  a  true,  serious 
Christian.  She  is  near  eighty,  full  of  sweet 
and  heavenly  expressions,  yet  busied  much 
with  the  affairs  of  that  great  family.  We  re- 
turned safe.  Blessed  be  God  !  When  I  re- 
flect on  the  fine  peo[)lc,  stately  house,  and 
furniture,  &c.  with  which  I  was  lately  de- 
lighted, yet  my  own  mean  house,  being  my 
home,  is  more  truly  delightful  to  me — because 
here  I  am  to  abide.  All  true  comfort  I  see 
flows  from  interest.  If  I  could  look  upon 
heaven  under  the  notion  of  my  home,  it  would 
make  thouirhts  of  it  sweet. 


ISO  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

July  11th.  Wednesday.  This  week  my 
good  friend  Mr.  lUidge,  having  been  at  Broad 
Oak,  called  on  me.  He  brought  me  good 
tidings  thence.  I  am  concerned  to  hear  him 
complain  of  want  of  love  to  God  and  things 
spiritual.  If  he  finds  so  much  wanting,  sure- 
ly I  much  more.  The  company  of  such  is 
delightful  to  me  in  this  our  imperfect  state. 
Thy  people,  dear  Lord,  shall  be  my  people  in 
all  conditions.  I  have,  at  times,  this  week 
had  some  more  warmth  upon  my  aficctions 
in  duty  than  usual ;  and  here  is  my  misery — 
that,  whereas  my  straitness  is  a  means  to 
humble  me,  my  enlargements  often  help  to 
puff  me  up. 

Oct.  29th,  Sabbath.  In  the  morning  I 
read  some  of  the  sermons  of  my  dear  father, 
preached  on  the  passion  of  Christ.  How 
much  more  easy  is  it  when  I  read  of  his 
sufferings  to  find  natural  affections  stirring, 
than  sj)iritual  ones.  What  matter  of  grief 
and  shame  that  an  innocent  person  should  be 
thus  used.  But  Oh  !  how  should  it  especially 
affect  me  to  think  that  it  was  not  for  himself 
that  he  suffered,  but  for  lost  man — to  bring  us 
to  God.  Be  astonished,  O  ye  heavens,  at 
this.  I  would  not  have  my  seat  empty  in  the 
public  assembly  when  I   can  go,  therefore,  in 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  181 

the  afternoon  I  went  to  Wrenbury.  I  liad 
some  weak  desires  and  breathings  after  com- 
munion with  my  God.  Mr.  OUver's  subject 
— Psalm  cxlvi.  5  :  he  shewed  that  those  who 
ha\c  an  interest  in  God  are  the  only  happy 
people,  which  is,  certainly,  a  great  truth.  It 
is  well  with  them  in  life,  better  at  death,  best 
of  all  to  eternity. 

Thursday.     I  went  to  Broad  Oak. 

Saturday.  The  near  approach  of  the  Sab- 
bath puts  me  upon  inquiring  what  I  shall  do 
to  prepare  myself  to  meet  my  God. 

Sabbath.  Nov.  4th.  This  is  the  day 
which  the  Lord  hath  made.  A  sweet  exposi- 
tion from  the  close  of  Matthew  xi. — '  Come 
unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour.'  May  I  not,  with 
that  poor  blind  man,  rise,  and  be  of  good 
cheer,  since  he  calls  me  ?  Dear  Saviour,  I 
come  to  thee,  a  poor,  weary,  heavy-laden 
sinner.  From  thee  alone  I  expect  a  supply 
of  all  my  wants.  The  subject  of  the  day  was 
John  xiv.  27.  '  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my 
peace  I  give  unto  you ;  not  as  the  world 
givoth  give  I  unto  you.  Let  not  your  heart 
be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid.'  Doctrine. 
The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  hath  given  and  left  his 
own  peace  as  a  precious  legacy  to  all  his  dis- 
ciples and  followers  to  the  world's  end.  Oh! 
16 


182  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

this  sweet  gift,  tiiis  peace !  It  is  heart's  ease ; 
a  liouse  on  a  rock  ;  heaven  upon  earth.  Six 
hindrances  of  it — Want  of  knowledge — Want 
of  grace — Want  of  godly  sorrow — Want  of 
faith — Want  of  prayer — Defects  in  obedi- 
ence. 

At  the  Lord's  Supper  my  father  had  this 
expression  concerning  true  believers — that 
the  blessed  God  hath  promised  to  come  to 
them,  and  make  his  abode  with  them.  This 
I  hastily  catch  at.  My  circumstances  are 
such  that  I  must  shortly  expect  many  weeks' 
confinement.  Lord,  I  have  loved  the  habita- 
tion of  thine  house.  I  would  gladly  have  my 
abode  there,  but  since  I  cannot,  wilt  thou 
vouchsafe  to  take  thine  abode  with  me.  Will 
God  in  very  deed  dwell  with  man — a  sinful 
unworthy  creature?  I  am  not  worthy  that 
thou  shouldst  come  under  my  roof,  yet  shall 
it  be  so  ?  I  charge  you,  O  ye  daughters  of 
Jerusalem — all  that  is  within  me — be  careful 
that  you  do  not  grieve  or  offend  this  blessed 
guest. 

17th.  Saturday  night.  Reading  in  Mr. 
Flavcl,  concerning  the  vision  of  God  which 
the  saints  in  heaven  have — he  hath  this  scrip- 
ture allusion  to  Deut.  xii.  8,  9.  You  shall  not 
love,  nor  delight  in  God  as  ye  do  this  day. 


MEMOIRS    OP    MUS.  SAVAGE.  183 

For,  if  the  perfection  of  that  state  would 
admit  of  shame  or  sorrow,  how  should  we 
blush  and  mourn  in  heaven  to  think  how  cold 
our  love,  and  how  low  our  delights  in  God 
were  on  earth.  Further ;  under  the  same 
head,  he  adds  thus — Ah,  little  do  the  friends 
of  dead  believers  think  what  visions  of  God, 
what  ravishing  sights  of  Christ  the  souls  of 
their  friends  have,  when  they  are  closing  their 
eyes  with  tears.  Serious  thoughts  of  this 
would  moderate  grief  in  such  cases. 

21st.  Wednesday.  We  had  a  lecture  at 
Mr.  Becket's,  at  Sound.  Mr.  Lawrence 
came,  and  other  friends,  to  seek  God,  espe- 
cially for  that  family.  One  son  lately  died  ; 
another,  who  was  entered  into  the  ministry, 
in  a  languishing  state.     Father,  hear  prayer. 

If  it  please  thee  reprieve  and  spare  such 
as  may  be  instrumental  for  thy  glory.  I  had 
opportunity  there  to  renew  my  covenant  at 
the  Lord's  table,  that  ordinance  being  admi- 
nistered for  the  sake  of  old  Mrs.  Parker, 
who  has  been  long  confined  to  her  chamber. 
I  would  come  to  that  ordinance  humbly  to 
pay  my  homage  to  a  crucified  Saviour,  and 
to  avow  to  all  the  world  that  I  glory  only  in 
the  cross  of  Christ,  whom  I  have  this  day  re- 
ceived afresh  to  be  mine,  and  given  up  my- 


184  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

self  to  be  his.  Mr.  I^awrence's  subject  was 
Psalm  xxxix.  9.  '  I  was  dumb,  I  opened  not 
my  mouth,  because  thou  didst  it.' 

160G.  Sept.  22d.  Wednesday.  Dear 
brother  Henry  preached  Ilanmer  lecture, 
from  Psalm  ciii.  13.  '  Like  as  a  father  pitieth 
his  children,  so  the  Lord  pities  them  that  fear 
hiin.'  An  excellent  sermon.  The  foolish, 
simple  child  is  pitied  and  instructed — the  sick 
child  pitied  and  comforted.  The  froward 
child  is  pitied  and  borne  with.  The  fallen 
child  is  pitied  and  helped  up  again.  The 
punished  child  pitied  and  spared.  The  peni- 
tent child  pitied  and  pardoned.  The  weaned 
child  pitied  and  fed.  The  weary  child  pitied 
and  carried.  The  wanting  child  pitied  and 
supplied.  The  wronged  child  pitied  and 
righted.  The  weak  child  pitiod  and  assisted. 
The  willing  child  pitied  and  accepted. 
Knowing  by  some  experience  the  tender 
bowels  of  a  parent  to  my  children,  I  can  the 
better  judge  of  the  tenderness  of  my  heavenly 
Father. 

1697.  Sabbath.  January  10th.  This  day 
and  the  evening  before  I  spent  some  time  in 
reading  my  dear  father's  sermons  on  Col.  iii. 
11.  Christ  is  all  and  in  all.  With  this  he 
concludes  that  subject  which  he  was  so  long 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  195 

upon,  viz.  what  Christ  is  to  true  believers  in 
forty  particulars.  lie  is  their  Foundation, 
Food,  Root,  Raiment,  Head,  Hope,  Refuge, 
Righteousness,  &c.  What  can  be  added  ? 
,  He  is  our  all — our  all  in  all — both  in  respect 
of  the  benefits  we  have  by  him — Election — 
Creation — Conversion — Justification — Conso- 
lation— Teaching  —  Redemption — Strength — 
at  Death — in  Judgment — to  Eternity.  In  all 
these  Christ  is  all  in  all.  Further,  as  to  duty 
to  be  performed  to  him.  He  is  all  in  all  to  be 
known,  chosen,  loved,  desired,  delighted  in, 
trusted,  thought  of,  followed,  preached.  He 
is  all  in  all  in  the  Scriptures,  in  the  Sacra- 
ments, in  Sabbaths,  in  praying.  Blessed  be 
God  for  these  sweet,  wholesome  truths  to  be 
food  for  my  poor  soul.  He  *  being  dead  yet 
speaketh.'  And  what  is  it  he  says,  but  that 
which  his  heart  was  always  full  of?  Christ. 
Christ.  Christ.  Methinks  I  hear  him  still — 
O  make  Christ  your  all.* 

Friday,  January  29th.  I  went  to  Whit- 
church, and  thence  to  Broad  Oak.  I  found 
my  dear  mother  well.  Since  my  dear  father 
is  dead,  I  am  ready  to  say — the  glory  is  de- 
parted.    But  why  should  I   say  so,  since  the 

*  The  valuable  book  alluded  to  here,  Christ  all  in  all  has  been 
published  by  the  Pres.  Board  of  Publication, 
16* 


186  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

presence  of  God  in  his  ordinances,  is  contin- 
ued ?  He  appears  to  own  and  bless  that 
young  man  Mr.  Bcnion  so  that  the  congrega- 
tion seems  to  be  as  great  as  usual. 

A  comfortable  day  on  Sabbath,  January 
31.  Mr.  Benion's  subject  was  2  Cor.  x.  5. 
concerning  the  government  of  the  thoughts, 
which  is,  surely,  a  very  seasonable  word  to 
me.     He  gave  four  excellent  rules : 

1.  Curb  and  check  the  first  motions  of 
your  thoughts  to  evil. 

2.  Call  them  off,  and  reclaim  them  when 
busied  about  evil. 

3.  Inure  your  thoughts  to  good  objects, 
which  they  should  fix  on. 

4.  Engage  them  to  moderation  when  em- 
ployed about  things  in  themselves  lawful. 
These  lawful  things  undo  us,  said  a  good  man. 
Oh,  if  I  could  observe  these  rules,  what  advan- 
tage should  I  have  by  this  day's  opportunity. 

Tuesday,  April  27.  I  went  to  Chester  to 
spend  a  few  days,  and  enjoy  my  dear  rela- 
tions. My  good  God  brought  me  thither  in 
safety,  and  I  found  them  all  well. 

28th.  A  public  fast  appointed  by  authority 
for  our  whole  nation  to  be  humble  before  God 
— to  pray,  and  seek  his  face,  if  so  be  that  he 
will  yet  be  intreatcd  of  us — that  the  issue  of 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  187 

this  summer's  proceedings  may  be  an  honour- 
able, comfortable  peace  to  all  Europe.  My 
brother  beijau  with  an  exhortation  to  stir  us 
up  to  the  work  of  the  day.  Then  prayed  and 
expounded  Jonah  i.  Prayed  again  at  large. 
Then  })reachcd  from  Isaiah  lix.  20.  compared 
with  Rom.  ii.  26.  The  Redeemer  shall  come 
to  Sion  to  turn  away  ungodliness.  The  Re- 
deemer is  Christ.  Sion,  the  Church.  Many 
ways  he  may  be  said  to  come.  He  came  in 
his  first  appearing  in  flesh.  He  comes  in  the 
preaching  of  the  everlasting  gospel.  He 
comes  to  Sion — when  he  enlarges  Sion's 
borders — when  he  establishes  Sion's  peace — 
when  he  asserts  Sion's  privileges — when  he 
abaseth  Sion's  enemies.  It  is  our  great  duty 
and  interest  to  prepare  for  his  coming,  which 
must  be  by  turning  from  ungodliness,  accord- 
ing to  frequent  Scripture  calls — Turn  ye. 
Turn  ye.  Without  this  we  must  expect  no 
benefit  by  his  merciful  appearances  for  his 
Church.  Even  the  prosperity  of  fools  tends 
to  their  hurt.  He  delivered  many  excellent 
truths.  Lord,  write  them  upon  my  heart  that 
I  may  be  the  better.  Oh  that  the  prayers 
which  have  been  offered  to-day  may  return 
with  a  gracious  answer.  I  was  affected  with 
a  plea  of  dear  brother's  in  one  prayer  this 


188  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

day — '  Lord,  Avhilst  each  of  the  confederate 
princes  is  taking  care  for  liis  own  interest, 
and  securing  of  that,  wilt  not  thou  take  care 
of  thy  people,  and  thy  interest  V — It  is  com- 
fortable that  all  the  praying  people  of  God  in 
the  nation  have  been  our  connpanions  in  the 
work  of  this  day.  Lord,  hear  thou  in  heaven 
thy  dwelling-place. 

Friday  evening.  Many  good  people  met 
at  brother  Henry's,  to  a  Christian  conference. 
The  subject  they  are  upon  is — The  benefits 
flowing  from  Justification — Adoption — Sanc- 
tification — according  to  the  Assembly's  Cate- 
chism. This  time  upon  increase  of  grace : 
The  question  was — What  are  the  helps  to  in- 
crease of  grace  ?  The  Word,  Prayer,  Medi- 
tation, Christian  Communion,  and  many  more 
mentioned,  which  I  have  foolishly  let  slip. 

Friday,  June  4th.  ]My  husband  and  I 
went  to  Broad  Oak  with  our  three  little 
daughters.  My  dear  aged  mother  hath  been 
for  some  weeks  much  indisposed.  Now, 
blessed  be  God,  better.  She  cannot  but  be 
revived  with  eight  of  her  grand-children 
about  her.  God  hear  her  prayers  for  them 
all,  that  they  may  in  due  time  be  tiees  of 
righteousness, 

Tuesday  night,  8th.     Brother  Henry  came 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  189 

to  US  there,  and  the  day  following  preaclied 
the  lecture  on  Job  xiv.  14.  *  All  the  days  of 
my  appointed  time  will  I  wait  till  my  change 
come.'  What  is  meant  by  waiting  ?  Look- 
ing. Longing.  Patience.  Preparation.  This 
great  change  will  come  certainly,  and  may 
come  suddenly;  therefore,  it  is  our  great  wis- 
dom and  duty  to  prepare  for  it.  He  gave  the 
following  directions.  Get  into  a  good  state. 
Keep  in  a  good  way.  Avoid  those  things 
which,  when  this  change  comes,  will  make  it 
bitter.  Abound  in,  and  secure  those  things 
which  will  make  for  you  at  a  dying  hour ; 
every  day  treasure  up  a  prayer  against  that 
day.  Sit  loose  to  those  things  which,  at 
death,  you  must  leave.  Converse  much  with 
those  things  which  you  must  then  go  to. 
Eternity  !  Eternity !  Oh  that  it  could  make 
some  impressions  upon  my  heart.  I  am 
ashamed  that  I,  who  perhaps  am  so  near 
death,  being  but  a  few  weeks  from  a  perilous 
hour,  converse  no  more  with  it.  How  seldom 
and  shy  are  my  thoughts  of  it.  I  am  loth  to 
own  my  kindred  to  the  dust.  Unlike  Job,  who 
said  to  corruption, '  Thou  art  my  father  :  to  the 
worm,  Thou  art  my  mother  and  my  sister.' 

I  had  a    comfortable  time  with    my  dear 
mother.     We  slept  together,  and  often  pray- 


190  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

ed  together,  ^vitIl  coml^^rt,  at  our  bedside. 
She  told  me  of  Mr.  Steel's  remedies  against 
distractions,  which  must  be  so  as  to  a  great 
many  other  evils  which  I  daily  fall  into — viz., 
these  two,  Sincerity,  and  Watchfulness.  God 
help  me  in  these. 

Friday,  June  18.  I  came  to  Whitchurch, 
to  meet  my  husband  to  go  home  after  a  fort- 
night's absence.  Blessed  be  God  for  mercy 
abroad,  and  at  home  ;  going  out  and  coming 
in,  no  adversary  or  evil  occurrent.  1  came 
home  safe  at  night.  We  all  met  together  in 
peace  and  love.  Praised  be  God,  whose  good 
providence  doth  watch  over  us  when  absent 
from  each  other.  It  is  a  mercy  to  have 
friends  and  relations  to  be  with  and  enjoy — 
but  a  greater  mercy  to  have  a  comfortable 
home  to  come  to — to  find  '  rest  in  the  house 
of  a  husband,'  if  any  thing  in  this  world  may 
be  called  so. 

Thursday,  24th.  This  day  brings  afresh  to 
my  mind  the  sad  providence  of  this  time 
twelve  months,  when  God,  by  a  sudden 
stroke,  took  away  the  desire  of  our  eyes — my 
dear  father.  It  is  easy  to  weep  over  some 
of  those  showers  of  tears  that  were  then  shed, 
but  it  is  hard  to  make  a  right  improvement 
of  the  event.     Oh !    sin,  sin.     Sin  it  is   that 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  191 

makes  us  naked,  and  deprives  us  of  our  com- 
forts. The  Lord  is  righteous,  because  we 
have  provoked  him. 

Tuesday,  July  27th.  We  had  Mr.  Law- 
rence with  us,  a  few  of  our  neighbours  and 
friends  being  met  to  seek  God,  especially  for 
mercy  for  the  family,  and  myself  in  reference 
to  the  hour  of  my  approaching  sorrows.  He 
expounded  Psalm  xvi.  very  sweetly.  He 
observed  from  ver.  2.,  that  there  are  saints  in 
the  earth — that  they  are  the  excellent  ones  of 
the  earth,  and  that  in  them  we  should  greatly 
delight.  The  subject  w^as  Psalm  xxii.  30. 
'A  seed  shall  serve  him' — namely,  Christ. 
He  hath  in  all  ages  had  his  remnant,  who  hath 
faithfully  owned  and  served  him — he  has  so 
at  this  day — and  will  have  to  the  end  of  time. 
What  a  great  duty  lies  upon  parents  in  train- 
ing up  children.  Oh  that  ours  maybe  a  seed 
to  serve  Christ,  and  to  bear  up  his  name  in 
their  day.  I  have  often  prayed  (yet  with 
submission)  that,  if  it  be  the  will  of  Go  1,  I 
might  not  bear  or  nurse  any  who  shall  dis- 
honour him — but  if  it  should  please  him  to 
deny  me  this  request,  I  am  told  to-day  of  two 
things  to  comfort : 

I.  The  testimony  of  conscience  that  I  have 
done  my  duty  towards   them :    which  God 


192  MEMOIRS    OF    MUS.    SAVAGE. 

assist  me  in  for  his  mercy's  sake,  for  I  am 
weak. 

2.  This  may  comfort,  that  Christ  will  have 
a  seed  to  serve  him,  though  mine  should  not 
be  of  them — which  God  forbid.  He  can  of 
stones  raise  up  children  unto  Abraham. 

1698.  January  5.  I  went  to  dear  Broad 
Oak.  I  found  dear  sister  Tylston  there. 
She  and  I  are  all  that  are  left  of  four. — A 
joyful,  sorrowful  meeting.  Oh  that  I  could 
look  above  and  beyond  all  the  things  of  sense 
and  time,  and  have  my  thoughts  surely  fixed, 
where  alone  true  and  substantial  joys  are  to 
be  found. 

Sabbath.  January  9.  Brother  preached 
at  Broad  Oak,  from  Colossians  iv.  12.  '  That 
ye  may  stand  perfect  and  complete  in  all  the 
will  of  God.'  The  words  seem  to  imply  Sin- 
cerity— Strength  of  grace — Steadiness  and 
perseverance  in  grace.  He  gave  the  follow- 
ing directions. 

Have  respect  to  all  God's  commandments. 
Psalm  cxix.  6. 

Hate  every  false  way.     Psalm  cxix.  38. 

Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God.  Eph.  vi. 
11,  13. 

Abound  always  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 
1  Cor.  ii.  last. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  193 

Do  all  to  ihc  glory  of  God.     1  Cor.  x.  31. 

Watch  in  all  things.     2  Tim.  iv.  5. 

Press  on  toward  perfection.  Philip,  iii. 
13,  14. 

Whatever  you  do  in  word  or  deed,  do  all 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

We  had,  likewise,  this  day  a  sacrament 
opportunity.  May  I  not  say  as  the  Psalmist, 
— '  Thou  anointest  my  head  with  oil,  my  cup 
runneth  over !'  I  have  afresh  renewed  my 
covenant  with  God,  professed  my  faith  in  a 
crucified  Christ,  and  hope  of  salvation  only 
by  him.  None  but  Christ.  None  but  Christ. 
The  great  things  which  I  want,  and  he  has 
promised  them,  are — Remission  of  sins,  and 
the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Wednesday,  June  13th.  Dear  brother 
preached  our  lecture  on  Zcch.  xii.  10.  'They 
shall  look  on  him  whom  they  have  pierced, 
and  mourn.'  Have  I  had  such  a  sight  of  him, 
as  to  cause  me  to  mourn  after  a  godly  sort  ? 
Truly,  sometimes,  I  fear  lest  I  have  been 
%vanting  herein,  having  not  lain  so  low  as  I 
should  in  deep  humiliation.  He  exhorted 
those  that  do  not  truly  mourn  for  sin,  to  look 
on  the  torments  of  hell,  and  dread  them  ;  and 
to  look  on  the  sorrows  of  the  Redeemer  and 
the  penitent  sinner,  and  imitate  them.  Those 
17 


194  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

who  do  truly  mourn,  he  exhorted  to  continue, 
mourning.  Every  day  brings  fresh  cause. 
And  to  comfort  themselves  from  it,  consider- 
ing— That  while  they  are  looking  on  Christ 
with  an  eye  of  sorrow,  he  is  looking  at  them 
with  an  eye  of  grace  and  mercy.  That  sin 
that  thus  troubles  them  shall  never  hurt  them. 
That  the  time  is  coming  when  even  these 
tears  shall  be  done  away.  Sorrow  for  sin 
shall  cease  in  heaven.  All  tears  shall  be 
wiped  away.  He  concluded  with  Psalm 
cxxvi.  last.  '  They  that  sow  in  tears  shall 
reap  with  joy.'  Blessed  be  God  for  this  good 
word.     Do  us  all  good  by  it. 

Sabbath,  July  3d.  I  went  to  Wrenbury, 
both  morning  and  afternoon.  Mr.  Garnet 
preached  well,  from  Psalm  Ixiii.  1.  '  O  God, 
thou  art  my  God,  early  will  I  seek  thee.' 
How  earnestly  doth  the  divine  Psalmist 
breathe  after  God  in  this  wilderness  state  ! 
How  comfortable  is  it  to  have  an  interest  in 
God  when  trouble  comes  ! — to  be  able  to  say, 
as  David,  '  Although  my  house  be  not  so  with 
God,  yet  hath  he  made  with  me  an  everlast- 
ing covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure.' 
I  find  it  is  my  great  fault  to  be  too  solicitous 
for  my  house,  especially  my  dear  children. 
But  why  should  I  be  so  when  God  is  mine  ? 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  195 

All  good  things  are  mine,  whether  for  the 
life  that  now  is,  or  that  which  is  to  come. 

I  must  not  omit  this  remark  to-day.  Being 
at  our  church  in  a  pretty  full  assembly,  and 
observing  the  universal  bowing  of  all  about 
me  at  the  name  of  Jesus  in  the  Creed,  I  had 
this  thought — Why  do  I  not  do  as  the  rest? 
Is  it  because  I  do  not  honour  him,  and  his 
name,  as  well  as  they  do  ?  Surely  I  have  as 
much  cause,  to  whom  so  much  is  forgiven. 
If  I  thought  he  did  require  that  outward  cere- 
mony, or  had  commanded  it,  I  should  not  be 
W'anting  in  it,  though  it  were  a  thousand  times 
more.  But  I  have  been  taught  that  he  re- 
quires the  heart  more  than  the  knee,  and  I  de- 
sire heartily  to  subscribe  to  his  government, 
to  own  him  as  King  in  his  church,  and  my 
King.  Does  that  evangelical  prophet  say — 
*  the  government  shall  be  on  his  shoulders  V 
I  say — Amen.     It  shall. 

Let  it  be  so,  O  Lord,  and  let  all  the  people 
of  the  earth  be  thy  willing  subjects. — As  to 
thi.s  ceremony,  I  cannot  see  reason  for  bowing 
at  the  name  Jesus  in  the  Creed  only,  and  not 
at  other  times  when  he  is  named.  Besides, 
I  have  heard  it  said,  by  those  who  understand 
the  original,  that  it  is  not  "  At,"  but — "  In" 
the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  shall  bow,  of 


196  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

things  in  heaven,  and  things  in  earth,  and 
things  under  tlic  eartli.  But  I  will  not  judge 
those  that  practise  it.  If  we  can  each  ap- 
prove ourselves  to  God,  it  is  enough.  Indeed, 
it  is  well  that  we  are  not  to  be  each  other's 
judges. 

October  10.  Monday  evening.  My  dear 
brother  Ilenr}^  and  sister  Tylston  came  to  us  ; 
truly  welcome,  though  not  then  expected. 
Blessed  be  God,  whose  good  providence  has 
brought  so  many  of  us  together  of  the  rem- 
nant that  is  left  in  the  land  of  the  living, 
though  we  cannot  but  sensibly  remember 
those  who  are  taken  from  us.  This  night 
brother  expounded  2  Cor.  v. — That  which  I 
chiefly  observe  is  from  verse  6.  We  should 
not  be  at  home  in  the  body,  but  rather,  as 
strangers,  and  as  in  oiu"  inn.  Next  day  he 
preached  from  Hag.  i.  9.  '  Ye  looked  for 
much,  and  lo,  it  came  to  little.' — We  are 
often  frustrated  in  our  expectations.  I  wish 
I  could  learn  from  hence  to  lean  less  on  crea- 
tures. Inquiring  in  the  close — Wherefore  is 
it  that  God  does,  oftentimes,  thus  disappoint 
and  frustrate  our  hopes  as  to  our  worldly 
affairs — he  observed,  that  it  may  be,  there  is 
a  want  of  a  true  principle  of  grace  in  the 
heart — that  perhaps  secret,  or  family  duty  is 


MEMOIKS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  197 

neglected,  or  carelessly  performed.  If  so,  no 
wonder  God  crosses  you  in  your  aflairs. — He 
asked,  Do  you  give  God  his  due  in  works  of 
piety  and  charity  ?  Are  you  concerned  for 
the  name,  and  interest  of  Christ  abroad  in 
the  world  1  Do  you  not  let  his  house  '  lie 
waste'  in  this  sense  1  Help  me,  O  Lord,  to 
examine  myself,  and  to  look  at  my  face  in 
this  glass. — Though,  at  present,  our  aflairs 
are  so  smooth,  and  harvest  completed,  yet  if 
God  should  turn  his  hand,  and  blow  upon 
what  we  have,  how  soon  will  it  be  otherwise  ! 
I  desire  to  stand  perfect,  and  complete,  in  all 
the  will  of  God. 

Thursday,  21st  Dec.  We  had  a  lecture. 
Mr.  Lawrence  preached  from  Matt.  xix.  21. 
*  Thou  shalt  have  treasure  in  heaven.'  He  had 
this  remark,  which  I  would  beg  of  God  to 
write  upon  my  heart — If  our  treasure  be  on 
earth,  we  are  going  from  it — if  in  heaven,  we 
are  going  to  it.  O  that  mine  may  be  in 
heaven  ! 

1G99.  Monday,  July  15th.  I  w^ent  to 
Nantwich.  Dear  brother  preached  excel- 
lently from  Johnxvii.  16.  '  They  are  not  of  this 
world,  even  as  I  am  not.'  Doctrine,  That  as 
Christ  was  not,  so  true  Christians  are  not,  of 
this  world.  He  gave  eight  useful  directions 
17* 


198  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

in  the  close :  Let  not  the  wisdom  of  the 
world  be  your  guide. — Let  not  the  w-ay  of 
the  w^orld  be  your  rule. — Let  not  the  wealth 
of  the  world  be  your  chief  good. — Let  not 
the  cares  of  the  world  encumber  you. — Let 
not  the  comforts  of  the  world  entangle  you. 
— Let  not  the  crosses  of  the  world  disquiet 
you. — Be  not  too  fond  of  life. — Be  not  too 
fearful  of  death. 

I  heartily  bless  God  for  this  good  word, 
and  will  endeavour,  by  his  grace,  to  be  made 
better  by  it. 

Sabbath,  Aug.  6th.  How  fast,  methinks, 
time  passes.  Now  the  sun  is  beginning  to  go 
from  us  ;  and  as  fast  eternity  hastens.  Death 
will  shortly  put  an  end  to  my  sabbaths  and 
sabbath  opportunities.  O  my  soul,  up  and 
be  doing.  Give  all  diligence  about  thy  great 
work  while  doing  time  lasts.  This  sabbath  I 
spent  at  home.  The  weather  wet,  and  I  un- 
well. I  read  this  morning  Rosea  xii.  I  find 
Ephraim  reproved  for  feeding  on  wind.  Do 
I  not  the  same  when  filled  with  vanity,  as  I 
am  too  much  when  I  have,  or  might  have, 
better  ?  A  sweet  promise,  verse  9,  of  restor- 
ing ordinances,  and  opportunities  for  our 
souls'  good.  I  observe  that  it  is  here 
mentioned  as  an  aggravation  of  the  sin  of 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  199 

that  people  that  they  were  the  seed  of  godly- 
Jacob — a  praying  man.  I  would  remember 
this. 

1700.  Sabbath.  Feb.  4th.  I  was  at 
Nantwich  in  the  afternoon.  Mr.  Lawrence 
preached  a  funeral  sermon  for  my  aunt  Bur- 
roughs, from  Acts  xxvi.  8.  '  Why  should  it  be 
thought  a  thing  incredible  that  God  should 
raise  the  dead  V  The  resurrection  of  the 
body  is  one  great  article  of  our  Christian 
faith,  which  I  find  is  more  easy  to  prove,  than 
improve.  Should  I  not  glorify  him  with  my 
body,  seeing  he  hath  prepared  so  much  glory 
for  it?  Lord,  I  offer  it  to  thee  a  living  sacri- 
fice, and  it  is  but  reasonable  service.  The 
return  of  the  season  brings  to  mind  the  mercy 
of  God  to  me  last  year,  about  this  time,  in 
supporting  and  strengthening  me  when  con- 
fined to  my  chamber  and  bed.  He  was  plea- 
sed to  make  it,  and  to  make  it  easy.  Blessed 
be  his  name  for  the  honey  which  I  found  on 
that  rod.  But,  alas !  the  sense  of  the  afflic- 
tion, and  the  mercy  which  attended  it,  soon 
wear  off.  Wo  is  me  !  that  neither  the  north 
wind  nor  south  wind  have  their  kindly  effect 
on  me. 

Hard  is  my  heart,  Lord,  to  my  grief  I  feel. 
Be  thou  the  loadstone,  let  me  be  the  steeL 


200  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

Sabbath.  March  19th.  Methinks  I  should 
be  learning;  to  endure  liardness  hke  a  cood 
soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,  The  cause  is  good — 
the  captain  gracious — the  combat  short — the 
conquest  sure — the  crown  glorious.  I  daily 
find  the  combating  between  grace  and  corrup- 
tion. First  one  prevails,  then  another.  Oh 
how  should  I  crroan  and  lonir  for  the  rest  on 
the  other  side  Jordan.  When  shall  I  come  and 
appear  before  God  ? 

July  6th.  At  Broad  Oak.  Had  comfort 
in  the  society  of  my  dear  mother,  especially 
when  we  prayed  together  in  that  which  was, 
once,  my  dear  father's  closet,  and  which  he, 
so  solemnly,  dedicated  to  the  service  of 
God. 

Next  day  Mr.  Benion  preached ;  his  text — 
'  Let  a  man  examine  himself,  and  so  let  him 
eat;'  a  duty  I  have  been  greatly  wanting  in, 
and  in  which  I  cannot  fix  my  vain  heart. 
When  I  think  I  have  a  heart  I  want  time  ; 
when  I  have  time  I  want  a  heart,  so  that  this 
exercise  is  greatly  neglected.  Yet  I  cannot 
but  say  I  find  a  settled  principle  which  in- 
clines me  to  seek  and  love  God. — As  holy 
Mr.  Corbet  expresses  it — '  I  had  rather  have 
a  heart  to  love  him  perfectly,  than  have  all 
the  wealth  in  the  world.'     I  had  an  oppor- 


MEMOIFwS    OF    MRS.    SAV^AGE.  201 

tunily  to  renew  my  covenant  at  the  table  of 
tlie  Lord.  '  Behold  what  manner  of  love  is 
tills,  that  we  should  be  called  the  sons  of  God.' 
I  deserve  rather  to  be  among  the  dogs  or 
swine,  than  to  partake  of  children's  bread. 
Yet  it  is  thy  rich  bounty  thus  to  treat  me. 
*  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul.'  Receive  Christ 
and  all  salvation  in  him,  and  with  him. 
Lord,  I  do.  My  Lord,  and  my  God.  I  was 
drowsy  before,  but  not  after  the  ordinance. 
I  discover  much  corruption  by  being  no  more 
sensible  of  this  great  love. 

Mr.  Nevet  (a  son  of  old  Mr.  Rowland 
Nevet,  a  nonconformist  and  dear  friend  of 
my  father's)  preached  in  the  afternoon.  His 
text,  Psalm  cxix.  104.  '  Through  thy  pre- 
cepts I  get  understanding ;  therefore  I  hate 
every  false  way.'  An  excellent,  plain  ser- 
mon. One  mark  of  a  true  hatred  of  sin  was 
— when  we  hate  it  most  in  ourselves.  This  I 
think  I  do. 

1701.  INlay  13th.  I  was  safely  delivered 
of  a  daughter — my  eighth  child.  Means 
were  ready,  and  my  good  God  much  more 
so.  He  was  a  present  help,  according  as  we 
have  often  prayed.  '  I  love  the  Lord  because 
he  hath  heard  my  voice,  and  my  supplica- 
tions.    Because  he  hath  inclined  his  ear  unto 


202  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

me,  therefore  will  I  call  upon  him  as  long  as 
I  live.'  I  will  love  prayer,  and  practise  it 
more. 

Through  mercy  I  soon  recruit  my  strength. 
The  Lord  is  my  strength,  and  he  shall  be  my 
song.  How  much  am  I  indebted  !  Not  a 
mother  only,  but  a  nursing  mother.  Comfort- 
able nights.     Sleep — God's  physic. 

Tuesday,  being  the  eighth  day  (as  of  old 
the  ordinance  of  circumcision  was  attended 
to).  May  20th,  brother  Henry  and  sister  came 
to  us.  We  invited  our  neighbours,  and  some 
relations,  to  the  enrolling  of  the  dear  little 
one.  After  we  had  professed  our  faith  in 
Christ,  and  purposes,  and  desires  of  obedience 
to  him,  the  infant  was  solemnly  received  into 
the  visible  church  of  Christ.  Named  Han- 
nah, especially  from  Samuel's  mother.  Lord 
Jesus,  gather  it  into  thine  arms.  Let  it  be 
among  the  lambs  of  thy  flock,  whereof  thou 
thyself  art  the  great  and  good  shepherd. 
Hear  the  prayers  of  the  day  for  parents  and 
children ;  and,  as  thou  art  pleased  to  add  to 
our  numbers,  add  daily  unto  our  graces. 
One  hint  brother  had  this  day  which  was 
very  seasonable :  '  The  birth  of  children 
should  remind  us  of  our  departure  hence. 
They  come  on  the  stage,  as  it  were  to  thrust 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  203 

US  off;  and  shortly  we  must  give  way  to 
them,  as  others,  who  went  before,  did  to  us.' 
Oh  that  the  consideration  hereof  might  help 
to  loosen  me  from  all  these  comforts.  What 
have  I  here  ?     This  is  not  my  rest. 

I  must  also  remark  the  mercy  of  God  to 
the  country  in  the  weather  this  month.  We 
have  had  seasonable  and  refreshing  rain,  so 
that  the  earth  yields  her  increase.  Let  God, 
even  our  own  God,  give  us  his  blessing. 

Monday,  July  7th.  Dear  brother  preached 
our  lecture  from  Job  xv.  1 1.  *  Are  the  conso- 
lations of  God  small  with  thee  V  They  are 
not  small  in  themselves,  nor  should  they  be  so 
to  us.  Is  it  a  small  thing  to  have  an  interest 
in  God  as  our  Father  ?  In  Christ  and  his 
purchase  ?  Is  it  a  small  thing  to  have  the 
throne  of  grace  open  '?  to  be  sealed  with  the 
Holy  Spirit  of  promise  1  to  have  a  title  to  the 
heavenly  glory?  Are  these  small  things? 
By  no  means.  Then,  O  my  soul,  up  and  be 
doing.  Mind  most  these  great  things.  Lord, 
let  my  actions  discover  what  it  is  that  I  most 
value — earth  or  heaven. 

1702.  February  22d.  I  am  yet  spared, 
through  divine  patience  ;  a  wonder  of  mercy 
that  such  a  barren,  worthless  tree  should  yet 
have  a  place  in  the  vineyard.     One  sabbath 


204  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

more  put  as  a  price  in  my  hand  to  get  wis- 
dom. Blessed  be  God,  who  waits  to  be  gra- 
cious. I  heard  Mr.  Edgly  in  the  afternoon, 
from  Isaiah  i.  10,  17.  'Wash  ye,  make  you 
clean  ;  put  away  tiie  evil  of  your  doings  from 
before  mine  eyes  ;  cease  to  do  evil ;  learn  to 
do  well ;  seek  judgment,  relieve  the  oppress- 
ed, judge  the  fatherless,  plead  for  the  widow.' 
O  Lord,  I  am  greatly  polluted.  Do  thou 
wash  me — not  my  feet  only,  but  my  hands 
and  my  head ;  and,  above  all,  my  heart.  I 
am  sensible  if  thou  wash  me  not,  I  have  no 
part  with  thee.  O  Lord,  thou  God  of  peace, 
sanctify  me  wholly — soul,  body,  and  spirit. 
The  more  I  am  acquainted  with  myself,  the 
more  need  I  see  I  have  of  this  washing.  My 
dear  father  desired  that  repentance  might  ac- 
company him  even  to  heaven's  gate.  Much 
more  may  I. 

Sabbath.  March  1.  How  happy  were  it 
for  me,  if  a  sabbath  frame  of  heart  did  but 
return  with  the  blessed  day.  How  amiable 
are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord.  My  soul  thirst- 
eth  for  God,  even  for  the  living  God.  In 
many  congregations  in  England,  I  think 
most,  this  is  a  sacrament  day — a  covenanting 
day.  I  have  earnestly  desired  my  God  to  fill 
his  ordinances  with  abundance  of  his  Spirit 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.  SAVAGE.  205 

and  blessing,  without  which  they    arc    dry, 
empty,  and  barren. 

April  8.  Wednesday.  Brother  Henry 
came  to  Broad  Oak.  He  preached  the  lec- 
ture from  Isaiah  xl.  31.  '  They  that  wait 
upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength.' — 
Those  that  are  constant  to  God  in  ways  of 
duty,  shall  find  him  constant  to  them  in  ways 
of  mercy.  Many  good  lessons  were  taught 
us  to-day.  At  death  the  soul  shall  mount, 
not  on  eagles",  but  on  angels',  wings.  At  the 
resurrection  the  body  shall  mount  up  to  meet 
the  Lord  in  the  air.  But  he  gave  us  this 
caution,  which  was  very  seasonable — See 
that  you  are  sanctified,  and  renewed  now,  or 
else  there  will  be  no  mounting  up  then.  An 
earthly,  sensual  heart  will  sink  rather  than 
soar. 

Wednesday,  May  13.     This  evening  old 

JNIrs.  M ,  of  Wrenbury,  was  buried.     Mr. 

Garnett's  text  was  chosen  by  the  relations, 
she  having  had  it  read  to  her  the  day  she 
died.  Psalm  cxix.  128.  'I  esteem  all  thy 
precepts  concerning  all  things  to  be  right, 
and  I  hate  every  false  way.'  This,  said  she, 
hath  been  my  practice  for  many  years,  and 
she  caused  it  to  be  read  again.  I  heartily  de- 
18 


206  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

sire  to  fall  under  this  character.  Lord,  grant 
that  I  may,  and,  so  far  as  I  am  able  to  judge 
of  myself,  I  do,  esteem  all  thy  precepts  con- 
cerning all  things  to  be  right.  *  The  law  is 
holy,  and  the  commandment  holy,  just,  and 
good.'  As  David,  in  the  47th  verse  of  this 
Psalm — '  I  will  delight  myself  in  thy  com- 
mandments,    WHICH     I    HAVE    LOVED.' In    the 

next  verse  he  repeats  it — '  which  I  have 
loved.' — Though  I  cannot  say,  which  I  have 
kept,  I  hope  I  can  say,  which  I  have  loved. 
I  hate  every  false  way.  I  hate  sin  more  in 
professors  than  in  others — more  in  my  own 
house  than  in  others — and  most  of  all,  in  my 
own  heart — which  makes  me  pray,  '  O  Lord, 
wash  my  heart  from  wickedness.' 

1703.  January  4.  I  had  desires  towards 
God,  that  I  might  sanctify  this  holy  day,  but 
alas  !  present  things  do  greatly  deaden  and 
hinder.  I  read  an  excellent  sermon  of  my 
dear  father's,  whose  memory  is  very  sweet, 
on  those  words — '  I  am  the  way' — namely,  to 
the  Father :  The  way  to  acquaintance  with 
him,  access  to  him,  acceptance  with  him. 
The  way  of  atonement — adoption — accomp- 
lishment of  promises — admission  into  his  hea 
venly   kingdom.      Lord  Jesus,  be   thou  my 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  207 

way ;  and  seeing  I  receive  thee  as  such,  help 
mc  to  walk  in  thee. 

Tuesday,  March  9th.  Brother  Henry 
preached  at  our  house  from  Matt,  v.  4. — 
'  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn.' — Gracious 
mourners  are  blessed,  and  shall  be  comforted. 
I  bless  God  who  hath  given  mc  any  thing  of 
a  serious  spirit,  though  my  natural  temper  in- 
clines me  to  the  contrary.  His  wisdom  has 
cast  my  lot  where  I  have  not  those  tempta- 
tions to  levity  and  diversion  which  some 
have,  for  which  I  humbly  bless  and  praise 
him.  Lord,  make  me  more  and  more  serious. 
There  is  great  reason.  God  is  serious  above 
us.  Devils  are  so  in  tempting.  The  blessed 
angels  are  serious  in  their  work.  And  shall 
we,  of  all  the  creation,  be  light  and  vain  ? 
Gracious  mourning  is  seen  in  habitual  serious- 
ness— and  in  actual  mourning  on  a  spiritual 
account.  Lord,  make  me  one  of  thy  mourn- 
ers. Such  are  blessed.  For  they  are  like 
Christ.  Their  sins  are  pardoned.  They  are 
freed  from  many  sins  which  vain  mirth  ex- 
poses to. 

May  23.  Sabbath.  I  was  at  Wrenbury, 
morning  and  afternoon.  I  was  somewhat 
aflbcted  with  that  expression  in  the  Common 
Prayer — 'Almighty    God,    unto    whom    all 


208  MEMOIRS    OF    MUS.    SAVAGE. 

hearts  are  open,  all  desires  known.'  I  have 
sometimes  good  desires  which  prove  abortive, 
for  want  of  endeavours  accordingly,  Mr. 
Garnctt's  subject  was,  Gal.  v.  25.  *  If  we 
live  in  the  Spirit  let  us  also  walk  in  the  Spirit.' 
Oh  it  is  this  heavenly  walking  which  is  the 
life  of  religion.  Without  this,  I  am  but  as 
sounding  brass.  It  is  my  great  grief  that  I 
do  not  more  manifest  a  real  work  of  grace  by 
a  suitable  conversation.  We  had  public  no- 
tice given  of  a  general  fast  next  Wednes- 
day. Lord,  help  me  to  humble  my  soul.  But, 
alas  !  how  hard  do  I  find  it  to  sanctify  a  fast. 
It  is  little  that  I  can,  and  less  I  do.  To  rest 
from  common  labour  is  easy,  but  to  devote 
and  dedicate  that  rest  to  God  is  not  so  easy. 

Sabbath.  October  10th.  Our  minister 
preached  a  good  sermon  against  swearing — 
'  Swear  not  at  all.'  It  is  a  shame  it  should 
be  such  a  reigning  sin  in  a  land  of  such  light 
and  knowledge,  that  the  blessed  name  of  God 
must  be  rent  and  torn  by  debauched  wretches, 
to  fill  up  the  vacancies  of  their  idle  chat. 
Lord,  forgive  me,  that  I  do  not,  as  I  should, 
mourn  over  this  crying  sin  of  the  land.  It  is 
a  great  mercy  to  be  out  of  the  hearing  of  it, 
as  I  am,  especially  to  be  delivered  from  such 
sad  pollutions  myself,  for  I  have  that  in  my 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  209 

heart  which  would  incline  it  to  all  sin,  if  my 
God  should  let  me  loose  to  the  power  of  mine 
own  corruptions. 

October  17th.  I  was  at  home  all  day.  I 
called  to  mind  some  discourse  I  had  with  my 
dear  mother  lately.  She  said  she  had  this 
from  an  excellent  minister — That  we  must 
make  it  our  business  to  search  out  the  sin 
which  we  were  most  exposed  to,  and  to  strive, 
and  pray,  and  watch  against  that,  or  else  we 
do  nothing  in  religion.  Lord,  help  me  here ; 
that  which  my  own  conscience  accuses  me  to 
be  the  sin  that  most  easily  besets  me  is  too 
much  love  of,  and  too  many  cares  for,  my 
children.  Lord,  turn  it  into  the  right  channel 
— into  care  and  concern  for  their  precious 
souls.  Methinks,  as  my  dear  father's  grand- 
children increase,  and  grow  up,  I  cannot  but 
have  many  fears  lest  any  of  them  should  go 
out  of  God's  way,  and  be  a  reproach  to  the 
holy  profession  which  we  have  made.  The 
Lord,  in  mercy,  prevent. 

1704.  Feb.  27th.  A  comfortable  opportu- 
nity at  Nantwich ;  having  long  been  fasting 
from  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  I 
had  some  spiritual  hungerings.  Oh  that  my 
poor  soul  may  be  emptied  of  self,  and  filled 
with  Christ ;  emptied  of  earth  and  filled  with 
18* 


210  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

heaven.  The  su])jcct  was,  Rom.  xv.  4.  '  That 
we,  through  patience  and  comfort  of  tlic 
Scriptures,  may  have  hope.'  Many  things  are 
revealed  to  us  in  the  Scriptures  which  are 
great  matters  of  comfort  to  us.  There  is  a 
glorious  happiness  in  the  oiher  world,  and  a 
way  open  to  it,  through  Christ,  for  fallen  man. 
He  is  himself  the  way.  We  may  know  that 
we  are  in  this  way.  I  bless  God  for  his  re- 
vealed will.  Mr.  Lawrence  told  us  to-day 
that  there  is  no  true  peace  or  satisfaction  to 
be  found  in  this  world,  but  that  which  arises 
from  the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience. 
Speaking  of  the  providence  of  God  towards 
his  people,  he  had  this  expression — '  The  father 
of  a  family  takes  care  of  the  meanest  servant 
he  has,  nay  the  meanest  beast ;  but  he  has  not 
the  same  degree  of  care  and  love  for  them 
which  he  has  for  his  children.  So  it  is  with 
our  heavenly  Father.'  I  have  this  day  afresh 
bound  myself  to  my  God  in  a  perpetual  cove- 
nant. Oh  that  T  may  not  henceforth  walk  as 
other  Gentiles  w'alk. 

March  26th.  I  was  affected  with  hearing 
this  passage,  which  I  remark,  because  it  may 
affect  some  when  I  am  in  the  dust.  When 
some  considerable  gentlemen  of  the  society 
(at  Nantwich)   were  gone   in  together  one 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  211 

Lord's  day  evening,  and  were  talking  of  some- 
thing unsuitable  to  the  day,  poor  Betty  Parsons, 
a  good  old  disciple,  overhearing  them,  said — 
'  Sirs,  you  are  making  work  for  repentance.' 
This  short  and  seasonable  rebuke  damped 
them  much,  and  turned  the  stream  of  their 
discourse  into  a  better  channel.  So  true  is 
that  saying  of  the  wise  man — '  A  word  spoken 
in  season,  how  good  is  it !' 

July  10th.  My  dear  mother  sent  for  me  to 
Broad  Oak  to  meet  my  dear  brother  Henry, 
who  preached  the  lecture  that  day  from  Sol. 
Song,  i.  4.  '  We  will  remember  thy  love  more 
than  wine.'  Holy  souls  take  abundance  of 
pleasure  in  remembering  the  love  of  the  holy 
Jesus.  I  desire  to  remember  the  contrivances, 
the  condescensions,  the  costliness  of  his  love : 
but  the  constancy  and  continuance  of  it,  espe- 
cially, affected  me.  That  we  who  live,  as  it 
were  in  the  old  age  of  the  world,  so  many 
hundred  years  after  his  incarnation,  should 
still  receive  the  sweet,  and  fresh  effects  of  it. 

Oct.  29th.  My  dear  brother  has  lately  print- 
ed a  discourse  concerning  the  Lord's  Supper, 
wherein  I  find  svi^cetness.  I  desire  to  look 
beyond  instruments — for  who  is  Paul,  and 
who  isApoUos?  Yet  I  bless  God  from  my 
heart  for  them.     This  expression  aflectcd  me 


212  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

— '  The  father  of  the  family  loves  not  to  have 
any  of  the  children  absent  at  meal  time !' 
Lord,  grant  that  this  spiritual  food  may  nour- 
ish, and  refresh,  my  soul. 

1705.  June  24th.  I  cannot  but  remark  the 
providence  of  this  day  nine  years,  in  the  sur- 
prising death  of  my  dear  and  tender  father, 
who  served  his  generation  faithfully,  and  nat- 
urally cared  for  souls.  He  was  removed  to 
heaven  in  the  midst  of  usefulness.  Oh  that  I 
may  still  retain  the  good  things  he  taught  me, 
and  follow  him  who  followed  peace  and  holi- 
ness. I  cannot  but  sometimes  remember  that 
habitual  weariness  which  he  complained  of, 
because  I  many  times  find  it  so  with  myself, 
especially  when  the  days  are  long,  and  the 
seasons  hot.  This  day  I  was  somewhat  re- 
freshed in  mind  as  to  this — that  my  dear  Lord 
Jesus  submitted  to  the  same.  He  was  '  wea- 
ried with  his  journey,'  John  iv.  6. ;  and  if 
so,  he  knows  my  frame.  Surely, '  he  bare  our 
griefs.' 

Sabbath.  July  1.  How  svi'iflly  does  time 
hasten  away  !  Now  six  of  the  twelve  months 
of  this  year  are  gone.  We  are  beginning  the 
other  six.  What  may  be  before  the  end  God 
only  knows.  Blessed  be  God  for  any  hope 
of  a  happy  eternity.     I  would  fain  be  con- 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  213 

versing  more  familiarly  with  death. — Oh  bles- 
sed, blessed  for  ever,  be  my  God,  for  any  light 
in  my  understanding,  and  warmth  in  my  aflec- 
tions.  It  is  the  grace  of  God  that  distinguishes 
me  from  the  vilest. 

September  30th.  I  was  at  Nantwich, 
having  not  had  a  sacramental  opportunity  for 
several  months.  Blessed  be  God  for  any 
hungerings.  It  is  the  same  that  opens  my 
mouth  that  fills  it.  He  shall  have  the  glory 
of  all.  I  have  had  comfort  in  avouching  the 
Lord  this  day  to  be  my  God.  O  this  precious, 
precious  blood,  this  sealing  blood.  Shall  I 
ever  esteem  it  as  a  common  thing  ?  God  for- 
bid. The  exhortation  was — '  The  stone  which 
the  builders  refused  is  become  the  head-stone 
of  the  corner.'  God  hath  set  him  for  a  foun- 
dation. Blessed  are  all  they  that  build  upon 
him.  Lord,  I  desire  to  build  the  hopes  of  my 
salvation  on  this  rock — *  other  foundation  can 
no  man  lay.'     This  alone  is  enough. 

October  29th.  In  reading,  in  course,  Eze- 
kiel  xxii.  I  find,  when  God,  by  the  prophet,  is 
judging  that  people,  and  enumerating  their 
manifold  sins,  he  twice  mentions  Sabbath  pro- 
vocations, verses  8,  26 — as  if  those  sins,  above 
others,  were  of  a  crimson  dye. 

On  Wednesday  I  went  to  see  my  dear  mo- 


214  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

ther.  I  found  her  as  to  her  outward  man, 
weak  and  feeble,  but  strong  in  the  graces  of 
Christ  Jesus :  the  inward  man  renewed  day 
by  day.  She  abounds  in  humihty,  meekness, 
and  contempt  of  the  world,  and  the  sight  of 
her  excellent  carriage  does  very  much  confirm 
me  in  the  substantials  of  religion — that  God 
will  enable  those  that  are  his  to  persevere  to 
the  end  of  their  race,  and  will  be  with  them 
in  the  end,  preserving  them  to  his  heavenly 
kingdom.  O  that  I  may,  by  her  example,  do 
as  those  Christians  in  the  primitive  times — 
'  Thank  God  and  take  courage.' 

December  29th.  I  became  the  mother  of  a 
dead  son.  My  God  was  to  me  a  present  help, 
as  he  has  been  many  times  in  like  circumstan- 
ces. I  adore  his  wisdom  in  choosing  this  rod 
to  beat  me  with  ;  he  is  rigliteous,  nay,  gracious. 
I  would  be  thankful  that  he  has  spared  me. 
'  Why  died  I  not  from  the  womb  V  Job  iii.  11. 
The  hope  of  the  hypocrite  is  compared  to  an 
untimely  birth  :  God  grant  that  my  hope  may 
not  be  such,  but  be  built  on  Christ — the  rock 
of  ages.  The  infant  was  buried  at  Wren- 
bury,  by  the  other  dear  little  ones.  The  fourth 
of  mine  that  lies  here.  Oh  what  a  reign  has 
death  even  over  those  who  have  not  sinned 
after  the  similitude  of  Adam's  transgression ! 


MEMOinS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  215 

I  could  not  but  be  affected  with  a  passage 
in  a  divine  hymn  of  Mr.  Baxter's,  somewhat 
appUcable  to  my  case : 


'  In  saddest  thoughts  and  grief. 
In  trouble,  fear,  and  pain, 
I  cried  for  his  relief, 
And  did  not  cry  in  vain : 
He  heard  with  speed, 
And  still  I  found 
Mercy  abound 
In  time  of  need.' 


Blessed  be  God  for  the  good  Spirit,  who  is  my 
remembrancer. 

A  remarkable  event  I  cannot  but  remark. 

Lately,  a  Mr.  L ,  formerly  living  in  this 

parish,  but  now  in  Malpas  parish,  buried  a 
daughter  aged  sixteen  or  seventeen  years,  at 
which  the  mother,  being  a  passionate  mourner, 
said,  She  had  rather  have  buried  her  husband, 
and  two  or  three  more  of  her  children.  And 
now,  this  week,  it  has  pleased  God  to  take 
away  another  daughter.  There  has  been  but 
a  fortnight  and  two  days  between  the  two 
funerals.  See  how  sad  and  provoking  a  thing 
it  is  to  murmur  against  the  Majesty  of  hea- 
ven. He  does  whatsoever  he  pleases,  and 
why  should  our  folly  prescribe  to  his  wisdom  ? 


216  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

A  third  daughter  has  hardly  escaped  the  dis- 
temper.    She  was  reported  to  be  dead. 

1706.  Saturday  morning,  March  9th. — 
I  read,  in  course,  Joel  iii.  I  thought  it  was 
very  refreshing  in  the  midst  of  that  great 
wrath  which  was  threatened  against  the 
church's  enemies — so  that  blood  should  flow 
as  out  of  a  wine  press — that  '  The  Lord  w  ill 
be  the  hope  of  his  people,  and  the  strength  of 
the  children  of  Israel.'  v.  16.  All  sincere 
Christians  are  the  true  Gospel  Israel,  and  God 
will  be  their  strength  and  hope  in  the  worst 
of  times.  This  promise  reminds  me  of  a 
passage  of  Zuinglius,  who,  when  flashing  the 
terrors  of  the  law  in  the  very  face  of  impeni- 
tent sinners,  would  say — '  Good  Christian, 
stand  aside,  for  this  is  not  thy  portion.'  How 
comfortable  is  it  to  say — By  the  grace  of  God 
this  wrath  belongs  not  to  me.  It  is  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  alone  who  delivers  from  the 
wrath  to  come. 

Sabbath.  July  14th.  I  was  all  day  at 
home ;  spent  some  time,  in  the  afternoon,  in 
reviewing  my  Diary,  written  nearly  twenty 
years  ago.  I  find  sweetness  in  the  reflection 
that  I  had  then,  often,  communion  with  God 
in  secret  prayer  and  meditation.  I  remember 
the  love  and  kindness  of  God  to  me  then.     I 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  217 

am  afTectcd  with  what  my  dear  mother  said 
to  me  at  leaving  dear  Broad  Oak :  when  I 
urged  my  unfitness  for  my  new  state,  she  re- 
plied— '  you  will  now  find  exercise  for  those 
graces,  which,  hitherto,  you  have  not  exer- 
cised.' And  I  cannot  but  own  now,  after 
nineteen  years,  how  kind  and  good  my  hea- 
venly Father  has  been  to  me  here,  in  placing 
me  in  these  comfortable  relations,  so  that 
here  is  no  want  of  any  good  thing — but  more 
grace. 

November  30.  Saturday.  This  week  we 
received  Brother  Henry's  new  Annotations  on 
the  five  books  of  Moses.  Lord,  bless  all  helps, 
and  crown  all  pious  endeavours  with  thy 
blessing. 

1707.  January  1.  One  year  passes,  and 
another  comes,  so  my  time  insensibly  slides 
away.  And  what  have  I  done  in  this  year 
that  is  past,  for  my  God,  or  for  my  soul  and 
eternity  1  I  desire  to  renew  my  resolution 
of  closer  walking  for  the  future.  It  may  be 
this  may  be  the  year  of  my  death.  I  bless 
God  that  the  thoughts  of  it  are  not  so  terrible 
as,  sometimes,  they  have  been.  As  I  grow 
into  years  I  see  still  more  and  more  of  the 
emptiness  of  all  things  here  below. 

October  9th.     I  w^as  a  little  discomposed 
19 


218  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

on  the  account  of  our  worldly  concerns ; 
things  not  succeeding  as  I  expected,  I  was 
ready  to  be  all  in  a  flame.  My  spirit  was 
more  ruffled  than  it  had  been  a  long  time. 
But  behold  how  my  wise  heavenly  Father 
deals  with  me.  We  read  in  course,  in  the 
family,  as  soon  as  I  was  up,  part  of  Psalm 
cxix.  and  that  verse,  '  The  law  of  thy  mouth 
is  better  to  me  than  thousands  of  gold  and 
silver.'  It  was  so  to  David.  It  should  be  so, 
it  shall  be  so,  to  me.  I  will  endeavour  not  to 
repine  at  any  event,  since  I  have  thy  good 
word  to  be  my  guide,  companion,  and  coun- 
sellor. 

Saturday.  I  went  in  the  evening  to  Nant- 
wich,  in  order  to  spend  the  Sabbath  there,  it 
being  our  monthly  opportunity  for  the  Lord's 
Supper ;  and  a  comfortable  season  we  had. 
I  trust  I  do  get  ground  of  my  corruptions, 
though  slowly,  and  one  good  evidence  is,  that 
I  am  glad  when  I  hear  ministers  on  searching 
subjects,  as  Mr.  Lawrence  was,  2  Tim.  iii.  .5. 
'  Having  a  form  of  godHness  but  denying  the 
power.'  I  have  reason  to  fear  this  is  the 
character  of  very  many  among  ourselves. 
He  had  many  excellent  things,  and  in  the 
close,  these  which  I  desire  to  remember — The 
more  of  the  power  of  godliness,  the  more 


MEMOIKS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  219 

comfort.  That  the  form  without  the  power 
will  bring  none  to  heaven.  Lord,  grant  that 
I  may  get  good  by  tliis  awakening  word.  A 
form  of  religion  I  have,  and  ought  to  have.  I 
need  not  be  ashamed  of  my  Master.  But  if  I 
have  no  more  than  the  form,  I  am  miserable. 
One  character  of  such  he  told  us,  is — that 
they  rest  in  outside  performances,  which,  I 
hope,  I  do  not- — Alas  !  what  are  these  but  the 
shell  and  leaves  ?  The  fruit  and  kernel  are 
what  I  thirst  after — that  I  may  find  him  whom 
my  soul  loveth.  Through  mercy  I  was  not 
at  all  drowsy  in  this  day's  work.  I  returned 
home  safely,  but  dull  and  unfit  for  closing 
duties.  Next  morning,  my  body  though 
sown  in  weakness,  was  raised  in  power. 
Blessed  be  God  for  sleep,  health,  food,  and 
all  other  my  common  mercies ;  the  want  of 
any  one  of  which,  would  make  my  life  un- 
comfortable. Especially,  and  above  all,  I 
bless  God  for  spirituals — the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
(who  is  my  hope),  and  all  the  benefits  I  enjoy 
in,  and  by,  him  ;  particularly,  for  the  good 
helps  for  my  soul. 

Whilst  means  in  plenty  I  enjoy, 
Let  not  my  soul  be  parched,  and  dry. 

I  was  much  refreshed,  this  week,  by  read- 


220  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

ing  in  brother  Henry's  book  on  the  Lord's 
Supper.  The  benefits  to  be  receiv-ed  by  that 
sweet  ordinance  are — Pardon  of  sin — the 
privilege  of  adoption — Inward  joy  and  peace 
— the  strenixthcninfT  and  increasinfj;  of  i'race 
— tlie  earnest  of  the  eternal  inheritance. 
God  be  praised  for  this  good  word.  Let  it 
comfort  and  quicken  me. 

1722.  February  27th.  Tliis  day  twelve 
months  my  dear  Philip  took  leave  of  our 
world.  It  was  a  time  to  bring  to  remem- 
brance. The  wormwood  and  the  gall  of  that 
providence  my  soul  hath  still  in  remembrance. 
I  purposed  to  sanctify  it  as  a  fast,  but  I  was 
forced  to  be  employed  in  household  concerns, 
by  things  unforeseen.  I  find  it  much  easier 
to  fast,  than  to  pray  and  sanctify  the  fast,  as 
I  should.  I  would  learn  more  humility, 
meekness,  weanedness  from  all  creature  com- 
forts. Mr.  Yawdry  had  an  excellent  subject 
on  sabbath-day — '  The  love  of  Christ  con- 
straineth  us.'  Surely  it  should  constrain  me 
to  a  patient,  quiet,  meek  frame  under  his  afllic- 
ting  hand — and  to  be  sowing,  even  in  tears. 
This  week  we  lost  two  young  cows.  Many 
years  we  have  had  no  such  loss.  The  Lord 
gave,  and,  when  he  pleases,  he  takes  away. 

March  28th.     Reading,  in  course,  John  xx. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 


221 


20,  concerning  Clirist's  appearance  to  liis  dis- 
ciples, I  was  i)lcased  with  a  sweet  remark  in 
the  Annotations.  '  See  the  condescension  of 
our  Lord  Jesus.  The  gates  of  heaven  were 
ready  to  be  opened  to  him,  where  he  might 
have  been  in  the  midst  of  the  adoration  of 
a  world  of  angels ;  yet,  for  the  benefit  of  his 
cliurch,  he  lingered  on  earth,  and  visited  the 
little  private  meetings  of  his  poor  disciples — 
stood  in  the  midst  of  them,  with — Peace  be  to 
you.'  What  encouragement  is  this  to  us 
now,  since  no  length  of  time  can,  in  the  least, 
abate  his  love  and  tenderness.  Having  loved 
his  own,  he  loved  them  to  the  end. 

This  week  I  was  much  affected  to  hear  a 
poor  old  woman  of  our  society  complain  of 
decays,  especially  of  drowsiness  in  God's 
worship.  '  I  go,'  said  she,  *  in  pain  and 
weakness,  yet  if  I  could  be  lively,  and  in  a 
good  frame  when  I  come  there,  how  I  should 
be  comforted.'  I  often  fear  the  same  of  my- 
self Lord,  pity,  and  help  under  such  decays, 
and  let  me  be  more  busy  now,  and  endeavour 
to  lay  up  something  in  store  against  such  an 
evil  day. 

July  29th.     I  find  among  my  old  papers  a 
good  remark  on  Psalm  civ.  2S.     '  Tliat  thou 
givest   them    they   gather;'    though    it   was 
19* 


222  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

spoken  of  brute  creatures,  yet  it  is  applicable 
to  us.  What  God  gives  I  should  gather, 
whether  abroad  or  at  home ;  in  the  congre- 
gation or  closet ;  in  preaching  or  reading. 
What  thou  givest,  O  Lord,  help  me  to  gather. 
I  gathered  out  of  a  good  book,  the  great  duty 
of  meditation.  I  endeavoured  a  little  with 
this  naughty,  earthly  heart,  but  I  brought 
little  to  perfection. 

In  reading  over  my  old  papers,  especially 
some  of  good  Mr.  Lawrence's  sermons  long 
ago  at  Nantwich,  I  find  things  that  please  and 
edify  me.  Treating  of  the  love  of  God,  ex- 
cellently from  that  scripture — *  The  Lord 
direct  your  hearts  into  the  love  of  God,'  he 
says — '  There  is  great  reason  to  fear  we  have 
but  little  of  the  true  love  of  God,  few  delight- 
ful thoughts  of  him,  few  careful  thoughts  to 
please  him.  How  little  is  there  bestowed 
upon  God,  and  on  his  service. — Most  of  us 
love  a  cheap  religion.  Many  times  one  lust 
is  more  chargeable  to  a  man  than  all  his  re- 
ligion.' 

October  7th.  Sabbath.  I  kept  home  all 
day.  I  employed  my  spare  hours  in  reading 
some  collections  out  of  Mr.  Baxter's  book 
concerning  being  crucified  to  the  world. 
Very  excellent  things,  and   suitable   to   me 


MEMOIRS    OF    MES.    SAVAGE.  223 

We  converse  so  much  with  it,  that  we  arc  in 
danger  of  being  swallowed  up  of  it, — like  poor 
Korah,  and  his  rebellious  company.  Lord, 
keep  us  from  being  over  fond  of  it.  I  find  in 
the  fore-cited  collection  this  passage,  which 
pleased  me.  Speaking  of  the  excellence  of 
being  crucified  to  the  world — '  It  is,'  saith  he, 
♦  the  very  honesty,  chastity,  and  justice  of  the 
soul — our  fidelity  to  God  in  keeping  the  cove- 
nant made  with  him — thus  giving  God  the 
creature  and  your  hearts,  when  covetous 
worldlings  unjustly  rob  him  of  both.'  Lord, 
keep,  keep,  and  help  me  to  keep  myself,  un- 
spotted from  this  vain,  evil,  sinful  world. 
Though  the  world  should  not,  must  not,  be 
made  a  rest  or  bed  for  the  soul,  yet  it  is  con- 
venient to  travel  in — as  a  way  to  a  better 
country.  Lord,  give  me  wisdom  and  grace 
to  use  what  thou  givest  me  for  thy  glory,  as 
a  good  steward  that  must  give  an  account, 
and  knows  not  how  soon. 

1723.  Wednesday.  February  27.  Dear 
Philip's  dying  day.  Two  years.  Mrs.  Ann 
Clive  here — mingles  tears  with  us.  We  sung 
together  Watts's  hymn  on  Rev.  xiv.  13. — 
Concerning  all  the  pious  dead, 

'Sweet  is  the  savour  of  their  names.' 


224  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

I  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God.  Tliis 
week  I  read  in  dear  Mrs.  Hunt's  papers  what 
afiectcd  me — viz. : — '  The  true  love  of  God  is 
to  be  the  spring  of  our  duties.' — When  I  retire 
to  my  closet,  I  would  reflect — Is  it  the  true 
love  of  God  that  brings  me  hither  ?  Or,  is  it 
not  obedience  to  my  natural  conscience — 
that  dares  not  omit  such  a  known  duty  1  I 
hope  the  former. 

Sabbath.  April  14.  I  keep  home  as  usual. 
Did  something  for  my  soul,  but  too  little.  I 
prayed  sincerely  for  those  who  go  abroad  for 
help  for  their  souls,  while  poor  I  sojourn  in 
Mesech  and  Kedar.  This  day  not  well. 
What  dear  rent  does  the  soul  pay  for  this 
earthly  tabernacle  !  Seldom  that  I  would  do 
good,  and  then,  how  to  perform  I  find  not. 
This  should  make  me  long  for  the  everlasting 
Sabbath.  Then,  no  indisposition.  Nothing 
to  clog  or  hinder  the  full  enjoyment  of  God  to 
eternity.  Hallelujah !  Tliis  day,  looking 
over  some  old  papers  I  found  this  remark, 
which  pleased  me  :  '  There  is  a  sweet  sympa- 
thy between  a  regenerate  heart,  and  a  pre- 
cious truth.'  Afterward — '  'Tis  only  saints  in 
heaven  who  may  be  said  to  keep  holy-day.' 
Another :  '  Many  would  weep  and  lament  if 
they  knew  they  had  not  a  month  to  live,  who 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  225 

now  laush  and  rejoice,  though  they  know  not 
they  shall  live  a  day.' 

June  27th.  Thursday  night,  about  nine 
o'clock,  dear  Betty  Keay  (my  grand-daughter) 
resigned  her  spirit  with  little  seeming  extremi- 
ty (small-pox).  A  holy,  sweet,  dutiful,  humble 
child.  Gone  to  a  better  world.  She  had 
made  a  great  progress  in  religion, beyond  what 
we  could  have  expected.  Many  excellent 
things  dropped  from  her  in  sickness;  such 
as  'When  I  have  formerly  read  of  that 
martyr  in  flames,  who  said  he  felt  no  more  pain 
than  if  on  a  bed  of  roses,  I  knew  not  then  what 
he  meant — but  I  bless  God  now  I  know,  and 
am  so  swallowed  up  of  joy  as  not  to  regard 
my  outward  pains.'  When  recovering  from  a 
fainting  fit,  she  would  say — *  Thy  rod  and 
staff  support  me.'  So  one  by  her  spoke  of 
the  bright  world — to  which,  she  soon  added, 
'  to  which  I  go,  I  hope.'  The  Saturday  after, 
we  laid  up  the  dear  remains  in  Hanmer  church- 
yard, by  her  own  dear  father,  in  hope  of  a 
joyful  resurrection.  Oh!  what  an  awful  day 
will  that  be,  when  the  last  trump  shall  call 
all  the  dead — and  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise 
first — and  she  among  them.  I  bless  God, 
several  things  alleviate  my  grief  for  this 
stroke. 


226  MEMOIRS    OF    Mils.    SAVAGE. 

Short  was  her  life,  the  longer  is  her  rest 

God  takes  them  soonest  whom  he  loveih  beat. 

One  good  lesson,  methinks  I  have  learned 
by  this  gu-j's  piety — the  power  of  divine 
grace,  notwithstanding  little  other  helps.  If 
he  will  work,  who  can  let  or  hinder  ?  Surely 
it  is  a  great  confirmation  to  me  of  the  truth  of 
the  Christian  religion.  I  have  sometimes  been 
grieved  to  think  of  their  loss  of  their  dear 
father,  but  with  God  the  fatherless  fnideth 
mercy.  When  her  mother  said — *  Thou  art 
going  to  thy  dear  father,'  she  replied — '  I  am 
going  to  my  dear  Jesus.'  Oh !  the  inestima- 
ble worth  of  an  interest  in  him  at  such  a  time. 

Sabbath.  November  20.  In  the  afternoon 
I  was  at  home  alone.  I  read  some  of  an  ex- 
cellent sermon  by  Mr.  Watts,  entitled  '  The 
Hidden  Life  of  a  Christian,'  which  he,  indeed, 
describes  so  that  one  may  discern  he  lived  that 
sweet,  excellent  life.  What  is  there  in  a  poor 
saint  here,  he  asks,  that  discovers  what  he 
shall  be  hereafter?  Those  holy  martyrs  and 
confessors  described  Ileb.  xi.  in  their  sheep- 
skins and  goat-skins — wandering  in  deserts — 
hidden  in  dens  and  caves — what  was  there 
in  these  poor,  miserable  spectacles,  that  looks 
like  a  saint  in  glory  ?  '  It  doth  not  yet  appear 
what  we  shall  be.'     Then  shall   it  be   made 


MEMOIRS    OP    MRS.    SAVAGE.  227 

known  to  the  world — these  were  the  men  that 
wept  and  prayed  in  secret — that  sought  the 
face  of  God  in  their  private  chambers.  They 
are  now  made  more  than  conquerors  through 
Him  that  loved  them.  The  poor  trembling 
Christian,  who  lived  this  hidden  and  divine  life, 
watering  this  hidden  seed  of  grace  with  so 
many  secret  tears,  shall  now  reap  a  rich 
and  orlorious  harvest.  He  shall  doubtless  come 
again  with  rejoicing.  Light  is  sown  for  the 
rigiiteous. 

The  seeds  of  joy  and  glory,  sown 

For  saints  in  darkness  here, 
Shall  rise  and  spring  in  worlds  unknown, 

And  a  rich  harvest  bear. 

Surely  the  very  thought  of  this  should  quick- 
en and  encourage  me. 

1724.  Sabbath.  May  10th.  We  had  a 
full  family,  about  eighteen  in  all.  My  daugh- 
ter Holland  went  with  the  young  ones  to  Nant- 
wich.  She  left  me  her  last  to  take  care  of. 
I  had  comfort  in  her  society,  and  was  much 
affected  with  God's  goodness  to  mine  in  things 
pertaining  to  this  life.  She  told  me  of  an  ex- 
cellent petition  of  Dr.  Bates,  which  he  often 
used — that  we  might  have  a  tolerable  passage 
through  the  world,  and  a  comfortable  passage 


228  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

out  of  it.  It  was  eminently  granted  to  him. 
He  died  without  any  previous  sickness,  laid 
down  on  his  bed,  saying  he  was  not  very 
well — only  his  own  children  were  about  him 
— they  knew  not  when  he  expired.  No  doubt 
the  blessed  angels  were  ready  to  do  their  oOice, 
and  convey  the  precious  soul  to  Abraham's  bo- 
som. 

When  I  saw  them  set  out  to-day  to  Nant- 
wich,  I  applied  to  myself  that  of  the  prophet 
Elisha  to  his  servant — '  Went  not  my  heart  with 
thee  V  I  should  much  rejoica  in  joining  with 
those  societies.  My  soul  needs  the  best 
helps.  Wo  is  me,  I  sojourn  in  Mesech.  I 
comfort  myself  that  Christ  knows  our  works, 
and  where  we  dwell — what  temptations,  what 
discouragements. 

July  26.  I  read  parts  of  a  sermon  in  the 
Morning  Exercises.  Thatw^hich  most  affects 
me,  is  that  of  excellent  Mr.  Steel,  concerning 
the  Memory,  which  is,  certainly,  a  noble  fac- 
ulty. '  It  should  not  be  like  a  child's  pocket, 
filled  with  trash,  but  like  the  ark  of  the  testi- 
mony, in  which  the  tables  of  the  law  were 
laid  up.'  How  prone  am  I  to  remember 
what  I  should  forget,  and  to  forget  what  I 
should  remember.  Mr.  Steel,  in  this  sermon, 
brings  in  eight  particular  things  which  wc 


MEMOIRS    OP    MRS.    SAVAGE.  229 

should  remember — Our  Creator — The  love  of 
our  Redeemer — The  doctrines  of  our  religion 
— The  duties  of  Christianity — Our  sins — Our 
vows  and  obligations  made  to  God — The 
church  of  God,  the  mystical  body — Our  latter 
end.  Lord,  write  on  my  heart  these  good 
lessons. 

November  15th.  I  am  all  day  at  home.  I 
should  spend  more  of  this  holy  day  in  joy 
and  praise.  There  is  matter  enough.  O  what 
a  pleasant  work  it  is!  I  should  begin  my 
heaven  now.  I  read  some  old  papers  of  my 
dear  Philip,  written  at  Boreatton.  The  strict 
watch  he  kept  over  himself,  and  his  own 
heart,  comforts  and  shames  me.  He  had  but 
little  working  time,  and  was  busy.  He  was 
soon  taken  to  his  reward.  One  evening  this 
week,  I  was  refreshed  in  reading,  in  the  fami- 
ly, *  When  the  poor  and  needy  seek  water, 
and  there  is  none,  and  their  tongue  faileth  for 
thirst,  I  the  Lord  will  hear  them,  I  the  God 
of  Israel  will  not  forsake  them.  I  will  open 
springs.'  Like  that  sweet  scripture — '  He  filleth 
the  hungry  with  good  things.'  Meditation  on 
this  did  me  good  afterwards.  I  set  my  poor 
seal  to  this  truth.  My  dear  God  has  opened 
springs  for  me  in  this  dry  and  barren  wilder- 
ness. I  have  great  encouragement  to  pray 
20 


230  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

and  thirst.  The  Lord's  arm  is  not  shortened. 
I  would  be  daily  inquiring — What  lack  I 
yet  ?  I  was  told  by  one  that  lately  heard  our 
excellent  Mr.  Watts,  at  Berry-street,  in  Lon- 
don— that  he  thus  closed  a  sacrament  there  : 
*  Now,  Christians,  Arise,  shine.'  Surely  tiiis 
is  what  the  Lord  my  God  requires  of  me.  I 
should  shine — in  a  holy  conversation.  These 
good  remarks,  that  sometimes  come  strangely 
to  me,  perhaps  through  many  hands,  yet  are 
spiritual  food,  and  help  to  nourish  and  comfort 
my  poor,  lean  soul.  Blessed  be  God.  If  I 
should  always  return  thanks  for  corporal  food, 
which  only  nourishes  a  dying  body,  surely 
much  more  for  this  spiritual  nourishment. 
Our  dear  Mr.  Lawrence  had  long  ago  this 
observation  from  that  scripture — '  Wherefore 
do  you  spend  your  money  for  that  which  is 
not  bread?'  '  Whenever  we  meet  with  any 
thing  that  does  our  souls  good,  though  but  in 
discourse,  that  is  bread.' 

1725.  Sabbath,  Sept.  20.  I  pleaded  with 
God  in  my  closet  that  I  come  in  a  good  day. 
A  remarkable  day.  A  day  in  which  he  uses 
to  own  and  bless  his  people.  This  morning  I 
was  affected  with  dear  Mrs.  Hunt's  definition 
of  secret  prayer :  '  It  is  the  familiar  entertain- 
ing of  ourselves  with  God  about  the  inward 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.  SAVAGE.  231 

State  of  our  souls,  to  which  we  arc  embolden- 
ed by  the  merits  of  Jesus  Chi'ist.'     This  I 
have   remarked  before,  and  it  is  worthy  of 
double    observation.       Further,    reading    in 
those  excellent   papers  I   find  this   remark: 
Thursday,  February  21,  1095.     She  went   to 
her  grandmother's  (an  old   disciple  of  great 
worth,)  where  she  had  appointed  a  private 
day  of  prayer  for  herself,  children  and  ianiily. 
There    were    four   excellent    ministers,    Mr. 
Howe,  Mr.   Shower,  Mr.  Reynolds  and  Dr. 
Annesley.      They   all  prayed.      Mr.   Howe 
only  preached  on  that  sweet  scripture.  Psalm 
xlii.  8.—'  The  God  of  my  life.'     '  There  was,' 
she   says,  'such   a  double  portion   of  God's 
Spirit  poured  out  on  all  present,  both  ministers 
and  people,  that  they  said  they  never  experi- 
enced  the  like.     As  for  me,'  she  writes,  '  I 
was  not  troubled  with  one  unruly  thought   all 
the   while,   but   I  was    as   if  I    had  been    in 
heaven — composed   and  serious.     The   hours 
seemed  but  as  minutes.     I  then  thought  surely 
religion  is  the  greatest  reality  in   the  world, 
else  it  could  not  produce  such  real  and  strong 
eftects.'     O  that  my  soul  may  be  gathered  to 
that  sweet,  and  general  assembly  both  of  min- 
isters and  Christians,  where  so  many  now  are 
who  so  experienced  the  powers  of  the  world 


232  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

to  come.  My  greatest  grief  and  trouble  is  the 
want  of  a  fixed  heart.  O  that  I  could  get  and 
keep  a  sabbath-frame. 

Wednesday  morning,  October  13.  I  had 
some  sweet  thoughts  on  an  old  subject  of  my 
dear  father's  long  ago — *  Even  Jesus,  who  de- 
livered us  from  the  wrath  to  come.' — There  is 
a  wrath  to  come.  Assuredly  hell  is  no  bug- 
bear. A  remnant  are  delivered  from  it. 
The  deliverer  is  Jesus.  Sweet  name,  as  oint- 
ment poured  forth.  This  is  my  beloved,  and 
this  is  my  friend. 

1726.  February  20.  I  was  affected  this 
morning,  when  my  dear  read  in  the  family, 
Psalm  xlii.  with  that  passage  where  the 
Psalmist  styles  God — *  the  God  of  my  life.'  I 
desire  to  own  him  as  such.  He  is  God  both 
of  my  temporal  and  spiritual  life,  and  will 
take  care  of  both.  One  morning,  this  week,  I 
reflected  seasonably  on  a  passage  I  have  long 
since  been  pleased  with  :  A  good  man  thus 
reasons  with  himself:  *  O  my  soul,  when  wilt 
thou  be  at  leisure  to  meet  with  thy  God  ?' 
We  are  hindered  by  a  thousand  imperti- 
nencies  that  are  nothing  to  the  work  of  a 
Christian. 

November  22.  Tuesday  morning.  I  re- 
deemed time  early  for  my  closet,  and  had  the 


MEMOIRS    OF    MES.    SAVAGE.  233 

comfort  of  it.  I  began  the  book  of  Deutero- 
nomy with  brother's  Annotations.  Many  ex- 
cellent things.  I  remember  my  dear  mother, 
%vhen  the  book  of  Annotations  came  to  lier, 
said  she  began  with  Deuteronomy,  and  gave 
this  reason — '  I  shall  not  live  to  read  the 
whole,  therefore,  I  take  this  which  is  the 
summary  of  the  rest.'  Brother  observes,  that 
it  was  spoken  in  the  last  month  of  Moses'  life 
in  the  plains  of  Moab.  When  he  knew  he 
had  but  a  little  while  to  live,  he  was  the  more 
busy.  Surely  I  should  be  so.  I  am  now  in 
my  climacteric  year.  I  should  daily  appre- 
hend my  nearness  to  eternity,  and  move 
more  swiftly,  since  I  cannot  but  see  the  day 
approaching. 

1727.  February  4th.  At  Whitchurch.  I 
saw  a  few  of  my  old  Christian  friends,  with 
whom  I  have  fasted  and  feasted ;  but  the 
greater  part  are  gone  to  the  better  world, 
where  I  hope  to  meet  them,  and  join  in  ever- 
lasting praises. 

I  read  a  sermon  of  my  dear  father's  con- 
cerning the  last  judgment.  Many  things  in 
it  very  awful ;  but  that  which,  especially, 
affected  me  was  this,  '  Things  done  in  the 
closet  shall  be  proclaimed.'  This  should  ex- 
cite me  to  seriousness.  The  motto  good 
20* 


234  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

Mrs.  Bury  had  written  in  her  closet  was — • 
Thou  God  seest  mc.  I  praise  my  God  that 
this  thought  yields  me  some  comfort.  My 
dear  and  kind  heavenly  Father  sees  some 
secret  transactions  between  him  and  me, 
whicli  I  trust  he  will  accept  only,  only  for 
Christ's  sake. 

Wednesday  evening.  March  27th.  I 
should  be  trimming  my  lamp,  and  doing 
something  in  preparation  for  the  Lord's  table 
on  Sabbath-day.  It  troubles  me  that  I  have 
not  of  late  felt  those  inward  meltings  of  soul 
as  formerly  in  that  ordinance,  yet  still  I  would 
be  found  as  at  the  pool-side,  waiting.  I  am, 
sometimes,  comforted  to  think  that  my  de- 
light in  closet  duty  increases,  and  I  trust  my 
heart  is  more  engaged  to  inward  universal 
holiness. 

Thursday  morning.  Feb.  11,1731.  We 
sung  in  the  family  that  verse  in  the  71th 
Psalm, 

'  Then,  in  the  history  of  my  age, 

When  men  review  my  days, 
They'll  read  thy  love  in  every  page, 
In  every  line  thy  praise.' 

I  thought  how  some  that  come  after  me, 
and  read  my  poor  Diary,  will  read  there  the 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  235 

love  of  God  to  me  in  every  page.  '  Surely 
goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me  all  my 
days' — in  the  single,  married,  widow  state — 
through  all  the  changing  scenes  of  life. — 
Whence  I  take  comfort  that  he  will  keep  me 
to  finish  well. 

1732.  Nov.  26th.  Sabbath-day.  Mr. 
Witton's  *  text,  Isaiah  iii.  10.  *  Say  ye  to 
the  righteous,  it  shall  be  well  with  him.' 
Blessed  be  God  for  these  comfortable  tidings. 
I  close  this  day  with  satisfaction,  that  it  shall 
be  well  with  me  living,  dying,  and  to  eter- 
nity. The  comforts  of  a  dying  hour  are 
usually  proportioned  to  the  holiness  of  the 
past  life." 

The  commencement  of  one  of  Mrs.  Sav- 
age's later  diaries,  furnishes  an  apt  conclusion 
to  the  preceding  extracts. 

"  I  find  when  I  began  my  two  last  books 
of  this  kind,  one  in  1714,  the  other  in  1722, 
I  did  not  then  expect  to  live  to  finish  them, 
yet  it  has  pleased  God  so  to  lengthen  out  my 
frail  life  that  I  continue  to  this  day  a  living 
monument  of  sparing  mercy.  And  I  am  still 
desirous  to  persist  in  this  poor  account  of  my- 

*  The  Rev.  Richard  Witton,  M.  A.,  was  Mrs.  Savage's  son-in 
law.  lie  was  40  years  Minister  of  the  Dissenting  Congregation 
at  West  Bromwich,  and  died  December  28,  17C5,  aet.  82 


23G  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

self,  hoping  it  may  be  useful  to  some  of  mine, 
when  I  am  in  the  dust,  for  their  quickening, 
and  encouragement  in  the  narrow  way.  I 
find  in  brother's  Annotations  on  Deut.  iii.  22, 
the  following  note  on  the  encouragement 
Moses  gave  to  Joshua: — 'Those  that  are 
aged,  and  experienced  in  the  service  of  God, 
should  do  all  they  can  to  strengthen  the  hands 
of  those  who  are  young,  and  but  setting  out 
in  religion.' — And  since  'tis  observed,  that 
what  is  written  remains — I  here  leave  the 
the  testimony  of  my  experience,  that  Christ's 
yoke  is  easy,  and  his  burden  light. 

Sarah  Savajre." 

O 

The  following  '  Select  Sentences,'  gleaned 
from  various  of  Mrs.  Savage's  papers,  will 
not  be  unsuitably  preserved  in  the  present 
memorial. 

It  is  an  awful  thing  for  the  best  saint,  who 
has  his  accounts  most  ready,  to  stand  before 
the  Judge  of  heaven  and  earth,  to  receive  his 
final  doom. — Mrs.  Ilulton. 

Serious  thoughts  of  eternal  happiness,  and 
eternal  misery,  will  make  all  our  difficulties 
vanish. — lb. 

Whatever  takes  me  off  from  making  the 
favour  of  God  my  chief  end,  and  Christ  my 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  237 

only  way  to  it,  does  but  deceive — cannot  sat- 
isfy— is  not  bread. — Mr.  Lawrence. 

We  are  more  apt  to  fear  the  death  of 
friends,  than  the  death  of  rehgion. — lb. 

As  secret  sins  allowed  do,  in  effect,  deny 
God's  omniscience — How  doth  God  know  1 — 
so  secret  duties  own  and  approve  it. — Jb. 

There  is  need  of  much  wisdom  and  grace 
to  direct  in  managing  the  body — to  give  it  its 
due  and  no  more — -as  to  food,  raiment,  and 
rest. — lb. 

The  world  has  a  great  many  servants  and 
friends,  but  1  never  knew  any  praise  it  at 
parting.— lb. 

While  the  world  is  in  a  bustle  about  earth, 
and  things  below,  the  believer  steals  to  hea- 
ven, and  makes  little  noise. — lb. 

We  must  not  admit  of  any  excuse  from 
duty,  unless  we  think  it  is  one  that  will  avail 
in  the  great  day  of  judgment. — Mr.  Illidge. 

What  an  absurd  sight  to  see  a  crucified 
Saviour  on  the  board,  and  a  sleeping  Christian 
in  a  pew. — Dr.  Benion. 

To  be  amended  by  a  little  cross,  afraid  of 
a  little  sin,  and  affected  with  a  little  mercy,  is 
a  good  evidence  of  grace  in  the  soul. — Mrs. 
Parsons, 

I  find  that  God  will  not  maintain,  or  en- 


238  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE. 

courage,  any  of  his  children  in  sloth,  or  idle- 
ness. When  I  took  more  pains  with  my 
heart,  I  was  in  a  better  frame.  I  never  took 
extraordinary  pains,  but  I  received  extraordi- 
nary profit. — Mrs.  Hunt. 

In  keeping  up  a  profession  of  religion,  you 
meet  with  difficulties  from  without. — In  keep- 
ing up  the  power,  you  meet  with  difficulties 
from  within : — but  hold  on,  and  be  not  dis- 
couraged— the  '  pure  in  heart'  long  to  see  God, 
and  in  a  little  time  those  longings  shall  be  sat- 
isfied.— Matthew  Henry. 

Those  who  desire  spiritual  blessings  are 
blessed  in  those  desires,  and  shall  be  filled 
with  those  blessings. — lb. 

He  that  gives  to  God  his  soul,  and  serves 
him  with  the  inner  man,  will  think  no  out- 
ward expression  of  reverence  too  much — 
He  will  give  his  body  too. — Philip  Henry. 

A  heart  to  be  truly  thankful  for  the  Re- 
deemer, is  a  good  sign  of  an  interest  in  the 
redemption. — lb. 

If  we  copy  the  example  of  Christ,  it  will  be 
an  evidence  that  we  are  his  now,  in  the  kins:- 
dom  of  grace,  and  an  earnest  that  we  shall 
follow  him  hereafter  into  the  kingdom  of 
glory. — lb. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    SAVAGE.  239 

Though  we  cannot  wash  in  innoccncy,  yet 
we  must  wash  in  penitency. 

Forced  absence  from  God's  ordinances, 
and  forced  presence  with  wicked  people,  is  a 
grievous  burden  to  a  gracious  soul. — lb. 

Christians  are  witnesses  to  the  power  of 
God's  grace,  to  the  sweetness  of  his  comforts, 
to  the  truth  of  his  promises,  and  the  tender- 
ness of  his  providence. — lb. 

The  happiness  of  heaven  consists  in  being 
with  Christ — '  that  they  may  be  with  me.' — 
Thoughts  of  this  are  reviving,  and  should  be 
improved,  as  a  cordial  to  keep  from  fainting 
under  any  trouble — as  a  spur  to  put  us  for- 
ward in  duty — as  a  bridle  to  restrain  from 
sin — and  as  a  loadstone  to  draw  our  aflections 
upward. — lb. 


MEMOIRS 


OP 


MES.    ANN    HULTON, 

YOUNGEST  DACGHTER  OF  THE  REV.  PHILIP  HENRY  A.  M. 
BY    HER   BROTHER, 

MATTHEW  HENRY,  V.  D.  M. 


"  She  was  born  from  Heaven, 

Fulfilled  her  visit,  and  returned  on  high." 
Dr.  Watts. 


21  **^ 


PREFACE. 

The  favourable  reception  given  to  the  Memoirs 
of  Mrs.  Savage,  has  induced  the  compiler  of 
that  volume  to  give  publicity  to  the  following 
sheets.  They  contain  a  memorial  of  one  of 
the  same  renowned  family,  and  are  calcula- 
ted, with  the  Divine  blessing,  for  general  edi- 
fication. 

It  may  be  necessary  to  state,  that  the 
manuscript  was  written  by  Mrs.  Hulton's 
brother,  the  Reverend  Matthew  Henry,  for 
private  circulation,  accompanied  with  a  Pre- 
face by  the  Reverend  James  Owen.  Mr. 
Henry,  though  strongly  urged,  could  not  be 
prevailed  on  to  publish  the  narrative :  having 
printed  the  well-known  Life  of  his  father,  Mr. 
Philip  Henry,  he,  according  to  tradition, 
deemed  any  attempt  to  increase  the  notoriety 
of  his  family  inconsistent  with  modesty.  The 
manuscript  has,  therefore,  hitherto  remained 
in  obscurity. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  preface  by 
Mr.  Owen,  (who  was  Mrs.  Hulton's  friend) 

243 


244  PREFACE. 

will  not,  it  is  hoped,  be  unacceptable  to  the 
reader. 

"  The  picture  exhibited  in  the  following  pa- 
pers is  for  the  instruction  of  the  mind,  and 
not  the  gratifying  of  the  sight ; — it  is  for  imi- 
tation, not  for  ornament.  It  represents  the 
hidden  man  of  the  heart,  and  not  the  out- 
ward countenance.  It  is  the  natural  delinea- 
tion of  the  new  creature,  not  an  artificial 
painting. 

"  It  was  drawn  for  the  use  only  of  some 
near  relations  who  desire  the  memorial  of 
those  with  whom  they  took  sweet  counsel 
together,  and  walked  to  the  house  of  God  in 
company." 

Mrs.  Hulton,  and  her  sister  Mrs.  Radford, 
died  within  a  few  weeks  of  each  other,  and 
within  little  more  than  a  year  of  their  emi- 
nent father,  Mr.  Philip  Henry,  whose  most 
excellent  Life  has  been  lately  made  public. 
As  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude  shines  bright- 
er by  being  attended  with  lesser  lights  origi- 
nally kindled  by  its  beams,  so  now  by  their 
natural  relation  and  aspect  they  are  happily 
formed  into  a  glorious  constellation. 

The  subsequent  account,  which  for  sub- 
stance is  extracted  out  of  her  own  papers,  is  a 
signal  instance  of  the  advantage  and  blessing 


PREFACE.  243 

of  a  religious  education.  She  was  planted  in  a 
fruitful  soil,  and  being  daily  watered  with  the 
dews  of  heaven  grew  up  into  a  tree  of  right- 
eousness, which  the  Lord  hath  greatly  blessed, 
and  soon  transplanted  into  the  Paradise  of 
God.  Her  early  acquaintance  with  the  divine 
oracles  made  her  wise  unto  salvation,  direct- 
ed her  to  repeat  Mary's  choice,  and  to  regulate 
her  conversation  by  that  sacred  volume  of 
which  she  had  a  complete  exposition,  of  her 
own  writing,  taken  from  her  judicious  father's 
mouth  in  the  constant  and  unremitted  course 
of  his  family  worship. 

I  know  not  whether  the  children  were  more 
happy  in  having  such  parents,  or  the  parents 
in  having  such  children:  they  travailed  of 
them  in  birth  again  till  Christ  was  formed  in 
them.  What  by  their  alternate  instructions, 
prudent  conduct,  heavenly  example,  and  power- 
ful intercessions  for  them,  they  were  the  hap- 
]iy  instruments  of  their  regeneration,  and  be- 
held, with  holy  delight,  their  spiritual  offspring. 
Happy  are  those  parents  that  have  their 
quiver  full  of  such  arrows. 

This  short  narrative  may  be  of  use  both  to 

young  people, — to  engage  them  in  early  piety  ; 

and  to  parents, — to  encourage  them  to  bring 

up  their  children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition 

21* 


246  PREFACE. 

of  the  Lord  ;  for  faithful  is  he  who  hath  prom- 
ised that  such  as  arc  trained  up  in  the  way 
they  should  go,  shall  not  depart  from  it. 

There  is  no  failure  on  God's  part  in  per- 
forming the  promises,  but  the  failure  is  on  our 
part  in  the  performance  of  duty.  Let  God  be 
true,  and  every  man  a  liar.  If  children  mis- 
carry, parents  must  charge  themselves,  either 
with  the  neglect  of  due  instruction,  or  just 
correction,  or  with  a  defect  of  prudence  in 
conduct,  exactness  in  conversation,  strictness 
in  oversight  of  them — or  a  tender  regard  to 
their  spiritual  welfare  in  disposing  them  to 
worldly  settlements. 

Some  one  or  more  of  these  causes  usually 
have  an  influence  upon  their  degeneracy.  It 
is  sad  that  worldly  considerations  should  sway 
so  much  with  many  (shall  I  call  them  Christian 
parents?)  to  expose  their  children  to  almost 
invincible  temptations,  by  settling  them  in 
profane  and  prayerlcss  families. 

A  seeming  comfortable  disposition  in  this 
world  sways  more  with  them  than  the  ever- 
lasting concerns  of  their  immortal  souls. 

They  postpone  their  eternal  welfare  to  the 
temporal  conveniences  of  this  present  life. 
Ye  fond  parents,  ye  go  a  very  preposterous 
way  to  work ;  you  would  make  sure  of  the 


PREFACE.  247 

world  for  them,  and  hope  for  grace ;  whereas 
you  should  first  seek  the  kingdom  of  God  and 
his  righteousness  for  them,  and  other  things 
will  be  added  to  them.  Let  piety  be  the 
chief  thing  in  your  eye  in  the  disposal  of 
them,  if  you  would  have  them  do  well  for  this 
world. 

How  many  have  I  known,  who,  by  over- 
looking religion,  and  grasping  at  secular  ad- 
vantage for  their  children,  have  to  their 
sorrow,  lived  to  see  them  ruined  for  this,  and 
the  other  world.  Their  spiritual  welfare  was 
what  they  could  not  promise  themselves, 
therefore  the  disappointment  was  less,  but  the 
prejudice  infinitely  greater:  their  temporal 
welfare,  at  which  they  principally  aimed, 
issued  in  the  greater  disappointment;  and 
though  the  prejudice  be  the  less  it  is  the 
more  afflictive  because  more  sensibly  felt,  and 
accompanied  with  the  guilt  of  being  accessary 
to  their  spiritual  and  eternal  undoing. 

Let  me  intreat  you,  tender  parents,  for  the 
Lord's  sake,  for  your  own  sakes,  and  for  your 
children's  sakes,  when  you  put  them  to  call- 
ings, to  place  them  in  such  families  as  may 
improve  them  in  the  high  and  holy  calling  of  a 
Christian. 

And  when  you  dispose  of  them  in  marriage, 


248  PREFACE. 

dispose  of  them  to  such  meet  helps  as  that  they 
may  draw  equally  in  the  yoke  of  Christ ;  and 
if  you  must  needs  make  some  disagreeable  al- 
lowances, let  it  be  in  the  smaller  things  of  this 
world,  and  not  in  the  greater  things  of  religion, 
lleckon  that  child  well  portioned  indeed  who 
hath  chosen  God  for  its  portion.  An  interest 
in  the  everlasting  covenant  is  the  best  inheri- 
tance you  can  leave  them.  Riches  are  tran- 
sient and  uncertain  things ;  and  the  abundance 
of  them  contributes  more  to  the  miseries  of  a 
future  life,  than  to  the  happiness  of  this. 

The  more  you  covet  of  this  woi'ld  for  your 
children,  the  more  difficulties  you  perplex  their 
salvation  with,  for  the  Divine  Author  of  it 
assures  us,  that  a  rich  man  shall  hardly  enter 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

If  you  desire  their  present  and  future  hap- 
piness, train  them  up  in  the  ways  of  serious 
piety,  and  settle  them  in  religious  families  ; 
for  "  godliness  hath  the  promise  of  the  life 
which  now  is,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come  ! !" 


J.  B.  WILLIAMS. 


Swan  Hill,  Shrewsbury, 
Oct.  8,  1819. 


MEMOIRS 

OP 

MES.    ANN    HULTON. 


Ann,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Mr.  PhiHp 
Henry,  was  born  at  Broad-Oak,  November 
25th,  1668 ;  she  was  baptized  by  her  father 
privately.  When  she  was  about  a  year  old, 
she  was  sick  and  nigh  unto  death  of  an  ague, 
on  which  he  notes,  "  that  she  was  freely  given 
up  to  the  will  of  God.  Lord,  do  thy  pleasure 
with  mc  and  mine,  but  contend  not  with  a  dry 
leaf" 

He  hath  noted  another  ill  fit  she  had  when 
about  a  year  and  a  half  old,  and  adds,  "  No 
sooner  doth  any  thing  ail  my  children  but  I 
am  presently  thinking  it  is  for  death.  My 
own  guilt,  and  sense  of  my  unworthiness 
causes  such  misgivings,  1  Kings  xvii.  18,  but 
God  is  good." 

She  gave  very  early  indications  of  a  sweet 

249 


250  MEMOmS    OF    MRS.    HULTON. 

and  towanlly  disposition,  and  an  aptness  to 
learn  above  most  of  her  sex  and  age,  which 
induced  lier  father,  after  she  had  learned  to 
read  English  well,  before  she  began  to  sew, 
to  initiate  her  in  the  Latin  tongue,  which  she 
took  very  easily,  but  made  no  great  progress 
in  it. 

From  a  child  she  knew  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  read  them  with  delight ;  spoke  in- 
telligently of  Scripture  stories,  and  was  betimes, 
as  soon  as  she  grew  to  any  capacity,  very  well 
affected  and  inclined  to  the  exercises  of  piety 
and  devotion. 

Yet  in  her  own  reflections  upon  her  child- 
hood, (written  in  the  year  1GS8,)  though  she 
blesses  God  for  the  advantages  of  a  good 
education,  she  bewails  that  the  cursed  foun- 
tain of  original  sin  soon  bubbled  up.  "  My 
childhood  and  youth"  (saith  she)  "  were  sin- 
ning vanity.  I  can  remember  nothing  that  I 
did  in  the  world  for  many  years,  much  less 
my  sins ;  but,  when  I  now  see  what  follies 
other  children  are  guilty  of,  I  have  no  reason 
to  think  that  I  came  behind  them  therein." 
She  accuses  herself  of  loving  play,  and  being 
froward :  though  few  of  her  age  were  more 
mild  and  tractable,  and  loved  work  and  a  book 
better  than  she  did. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  251 

She  soon  made  her  Catechism  very  familiar 
to  her,  and  loved  to  hear  and  ask  questions 
concerning  the  things  of  God.  Before  seven 
years  old,  she  learnt  to  bear  her  part  in  the 
repetitions  of  the  heads  of  sermons  in  the 
family,  having  the  happiness  of  a  very  quick 
understanding,  and  a  good  memory. 

When  she  was  about  eleven  years  old,  she 
began  to  write  sermons,  and  continued  it  all 
her  days.  What  she  wrote  was  good  sense, 
well  spelled,  and  the  substance  of  a  discourse. 
She  kept  her  sermon-books  very  carefully, 
and  in  good  ordci\  She  very  frequently 
looked  over  and  conversed  with  what  she 
had  written  long  before.  Read  under  her 
own  hanfl  the  account  of  the  days  of  her 
youth — "  I  soon  learned"  (saith  she)  "  a 
course  of  external  duties,  and  was  pleased 
with  the  bare  performance  of  the  duty  with- 
out looking  at  the  manner  how  it  was  done; 
but  at  length,  it  pleased  God,  who  separated 
me  from  my  mother's  womb,  to  call  me  by 
his  grace  and  reveal  his  Son  in  me.  I  can- 
not be  punctual  as  to  the  time,  but  rather 
desire  to  make  sure  the  thing.  The  merciful 
circumstances  of  this  good  work  were,  that 
it  was  done  early  in  my  days,  and  not 
attended   with   such   pangs   and   terrors    as 


252  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON. 

some  others  endure.  The  Spirit  of  God 
convinced  me  and  wrought  on  me  by  degrees. 
Many  a  time  hath  God  spoken  to  me  in  a 
still  small  voice,  and  therein  he  considered 
my  frame,  but  the  less  fine  was  paid  at  first, 
the  greater  rent  I  must  expect  to  sit  upon 
afterwards ;  perhaps  the  least  terror  the  more 
doubts  afterwards.  I  might  tell  (saith  she) 
long  stories  of  the  goodness  of  God  in  dis- 
covering to  me  the  infinite  evil  of  sin,  giving 
me  to  mourn  over  it,  quickening  me  to  duty, 
especially  to  make  sure  work  about  my 
foundation,  enabling  me  to  close  sincerely 
with  Jesus  Christ,  which  I  think  I  have  done 
as  well  as  I  could,  though  never  so  well  as  I 
would.  When  God  gave  me  some  enlarge- 
ments in  holy  duties,  I  rested  much  in  them, 
and  counted  upon  comfort  and  assurance ; 
when,  alas !  I  was  not  at  all  ready  for  it. 
But  often  times  my  secret  duties  were  more 
long  than  fervent ;  more  external  than  inter- 
nal." She  complained  to  one  of  her  sisters 
long  after,  that  she  found  it  was  possible  to 
lose  much  time  even  in  the  closet.  Those 
that  were  intimate  with  her,  could  not  how- 
ever, but  observe,  not  only  how  constant  she 
was  to  secret  worship,  and  how  she  abounded 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  253 

in  it,  but  what  a  discernible  pleasure  and  de- 
light she  took  in  it. 

In  the  sixteenth  year  of  her  age,  she  was 
admitted    to    the    Lord's    Supper,    February 
1084,  and  with   a  great   deal   of  satisfaction 
both  to  herself  and  her  father,  joined  herself 
to  the  Lord  in  an  everlasting  covenant  never 
to  be  forgotten.     After  the  second  time  of  her 
approach  to  that  ordinance,  she  made  this  re- 
mark of  her  spiritual  state:    "  I  now  fell  into 
a  very  dull  and  lifeless  frame.     Drowsiness 
prevailed  much  :   it  was  very  grievous  to  me, 
and  after  many  foils  by  it,   I  resolved,  with 
tears,  never  to  yield  to  it.     Hovi^  I  got  out  of 
this  frame  I  cannot  tell,  but  this  I  know — that 
it  was  the  work  of  the  grace  of  God.     It  was 
a  great  hinderance  to  my  progress  in  rehgion, 
that  I  did  not  open  the  case  of  my  soul  to 
those  that  were  able  to  advise  me;   which 
proceeded   from    my   reservedness,  and  has 
cost  me  dear.     But  this  I  did  seriously  pro- 
mise to  one  that  will  be  a  witness  against  me 
if  I  lie,  that  whereas   there  are   those  who 
make  excuses  for  non-attendance  at  the  Gospel 
feast,  I  will  not  be  excused."     Afterwards  she 
thus  writes — "  I  was  very  full  of  complaints, 
and  empty  of  praises.     I  had  great  supports, 
but  few  suavities  ;  some  sweet  sabbaths  and 
22 


254  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON. 

sacraments,  but  very  many  damps  to  my 
joys.  Sin  was  exceedingly  odious  to  me,  and 
I  remembered,  with  shame,  how  I  had  stifled 
convictions,  and  how  careless  and  indifl'erent 
I  had  been  in  matters  of  religion ;  how  pride 
and  passion  had  most  easily  beset  me ;  and 
how  often  God  had  called  by  his  word  and 
I  would  not  hear.  The  place  where  I  was 
planted  was  a  vineyard,  but  it  grieved  me  to 
think  how  I  had  cumbered  the  ground  by  my 
barrenness ;  yea,  brought  forth  wild  grapes 
by  relative  miscarriages,  and  other  sins,  both 
of  omission  and  commission  ;  blessed  be  God 
that  which  I  did  I  allowed  not ;  with  my 
mind  I  served  the  law  of  God,  and  delighted 
in  it  after  the  inner  man.  I  esteemed  holiness 
above  any  thing  in  the  world,  and  had  chosen 
God  for  my  portion.  I  smarted  greatly  for 
some  tongue-sins  :  some  untrue  words,  though 
not  devised,  yet  spoken  in  haste,  through  in- 
advertency, were  as  a  sharp  sword  in  my 
bowels,  and  my  bones  were  broken,  through 
my  own  carelessness.  The  spirit  of  bondage 
long  prevailed  sadly ;  it  cannot  be  expressed 
what  straitness  of  spirit  I  found  ;  how  the 
wings  of  faith  were  dipt,  and  how  the  tempter 
conquered  me.  But  when  the  sorrow  of  my 
spirit  even  tied  my  tongue,  yet  I  loved  to  be 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  255 

alone  before  God,  to  be  looked  on  by  him ; 
and  many  a  time  hath  he  had  pity.  I  cannot 
say  that  ever  he  was  wanting  to  me,  but 
made  all  grace  to  abound  towards  me.  His 
word  has  been  a  means  of  conviction,  of 
quickening,  of  comfort  to  me  many  a  time, 
and  I  have  found  it  sweeter  than  honey,  or 
the  honey-comb.  He  restored  my  soul,  he 
led  me  in  the  paths  of  holiness  for  his  name's 
sake.  It  pleased  God,  some  time  after  this,  to 
make  me  more  than  ever  sensible  of  the  in- 
sufficiency of  my  own  righteousness  to  justi- 
fy me,  and  to  show  me  my  need  of  Christ,  and 
his  fulness :  so  that  I  counted  all  things  but 
loss  that  I  might  win  Christ  and  be  found  in 
him.  Thus  did  the  Lord,  many  a  time,  wait 
to  be  gracious  to  me,  when  I  was  like  him 
who  said,  *  Why  should  I  wait  for  tlie  Lord 
any  longer  V  At  length  the  Holy  Spirit,  who 
came  to  convince  the  world,  was  pleased, 
(as  at  a  certain  time  I  was  verily  persuaded) 
to  convince  me  of  these  ten  things,  viz. 

1.  That  God  is  my  ciiiefest  good,  and 
that  to  know,  love,  and  serve  him,  is  my  hon- 
our and  happiness ;  the  greatest  I  am  capa- 
ble of. 

2.  That  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world 
to  save  sinners ;  that  he  is  able  and  willing 


256  MEMOIRS    OF    MUS.    IIULTON. 

to   save   me,  and   there   is   salvation    in   no 
other. 

3.  That  rehgion  is  the  most  amiable,  plea- 
sant, and  beneficial  thing  in  the  world. 

4.  That  much  of  the  power  of  godliness 
consists  in  the  great  duties  of  self-denial,  and 
mortification. 

5.  That  I  have  sinned  and  come  short  of 
the  glory  of  God,  and  am  undone  without 
Christ. 

6.  That  the  favour  of  God  is  better  than 
life. 

7.  That  sin  is  the  worst  of  evils,  exceeding 
sinful ;  and  evil,  and  an  only  evil. 

8.  That  there  will  be  no  getting  to  heaven 
without  much  pains  and  difficulty. 

9.  That  I  shall  never  be  a  loser  by  doing 
my  duty. 

10.  That  I  am  infinitely  obliged  to  God 
who  hath  wrought  these  things  in  me." 

"  Now,"  saith  she  in  her  papers,  "  I  fear  I 
did  every  day  act  contrary  to  these  convic- 
tions, not  keeping  up  a  continual  watch  over 
myself;  but  commonly  my  daily  failings 
passed  not  without  sad  reflections.  I  was 
solicitous  to  make  sure  my  being  joined  to  the 
Lord  in  an  everlasting  covenant,  and  there- 
upon I  did  vocally  do  it  in  Mr.  Alleine's  form 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  257 

of  words ;  and  did  also  subscribe  with  my 
hand  to  the  Lord  ;  which  remains  as  a  witness 
against  me  if  I  be  false  to  it.  Renouncing  the 
world  and  the  flesh,  I  did  cleave  to  God  in 
Christ  alone  as  my  sovereign  Lord  and 
Ruler ;  my  chiefest  good  and  highest  end  ; 
and  I  never  repented  it,  only  that  I  did  it  no 
better.  God  was  pleased  sometimes  gently 
to  correct  me  by  distempers  of  body,  but  in 
much  mercy ;  for  I  had  been  as  a  bullock  un- 
accustomed to  the  yoke,  knowing  neither  how 
to  want  nor  how  to  abound ;  yet  now  I  see 
he  works  all  for  good,  and  do  purpose,  by 
his  grace,  to  be  well  pleased  with  every  thing 
that  happens  to  me,  because  it  is  the  will  of 
God." 

In  a  paper  written  in  the  year  1688,  she 
thus  mentions  the  advantages  of  her  educa- 
tion : — "I  was  born  of  one  who  had  the  hon- 
our to  be  of  that  office  who  are  the  messen- 
gers of  the  Churches,  and  the  glory  of  Christ. 
(2  Cor.  viii.  13.)  A  labourer  in  the  vine- 
yard ;  though  thrust  out  by  men,  yet  at  work 
in  season  and  out  of  season :  and  being  it 
was  so,  my  education  was  accordingly — 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 

"  As  I  grew  up  I  have  strained  at  gnats 
and  swallowed  camels,  often  falling  into  sin. 
22* 


258  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 

I  did  not  prefer  the  word  of  God's  mouth  to 
my  necessary  food.  My  own  iniquity  pre- 
vailed, that  is,  flesh-pleasing  in  food  and  ap- 
parel, and  sinful  bashfulness  in  profitable 
questions."  "  Yet,"  she  adds,  "  one  evidence 
of  my  love  to  God  is  love  to  the  sabbath-day. 
It  is  the  best  day  of  the  week  to  me.  I  am 
glad  when  it  draws  near;  I  feel  the  want  of 
it  before  it  comes.  Another  evidence  is, 
mean  thoughts  of  the  world  ;  my  age  exposes 
me  to  the  contrary  temptations :  but  whom 
have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and  I  would  get 
above  it.  The  promise-performing  God  has 
begun  to  perform  that  promise  to  me,  (Rom- 
ans vi.  14.)  '  Sin  shall  not  have  dominion.' 
Pride,  that  tympany  of  the  soul,  by  the  appli- 
cations of  the  Heavenly  Physician,  is  begun 
to  be  cured,  though  but  begun.  Psalm  ciii. 
2.  '  Who  healeth  all  thy  diseases.'  Vain 
thoughts  compass  me  about  like  bees.  I  am 
stung  with  them.  My  pride  appears  in  my 
thoughts,  pleasing  myself  with  my  own  say- 
ings and  doings.  O  that  I  could  say  as 
David,  Psalm,  cxxxi.  1.  '  Lord,  my  heart  is 
not  haughty.'  She  observes  once  after  a 
Sacrament,  "  I  thought  that  the  Apostle's 
method  was  taken.  Let  a  man  examine  him- 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  259 

self  and  so  cat ;  yet  dull,  lifeless,  and  un- 
believing." 

"March  28,  1G89.  I  was  very  proud, 
given  to  pleasure,  with  the  neglect  of  God  ; 
and  it  does  find  me  out ;  '  for  they  that  ob- 
serve lying  vanities  forsake  their  own  mer- 
cies.' 

She  mentions  her  father's  particular  advice 
to  her  to  look  to  secret  duty.  Keep  up  that 
whatever  you  do,  nothing  will  prosper  with- 
out it ;  all  grace  grows,  as  love  to  the  word 
of  God  grows. 

This  collection  of  her  experiences  she  drew 
up  when  she  was  about  nineteen  years  old, 
but,  I  believe,  never  any  one  beside  herself 
saw  it,  or  knew  a  tittle  of  it  till  after  her 
death.  For  the  top  of  her  ambition  was  to  be 
accepted  of  that  God  who  sees  in  secret. 
Any  one  that  hath  read  these  lines,  which 
were  the  easy  and  natural  product  of  her  pen, 
and  of  a-piece  with  her  discourses,  will  say, 
There  is  something  more  in  them  than  is 
usually  found  in  such  tender  years  ;  and  will 
wish  she  had  been  more  large  and  copious  in 
the  account. 

She  wrote  also  her  Father's  Exposition  of 
the  Scriptures  in  the  family  very  judiciously  ; 
and  made  use  of  them  in  her  private  reading 


260  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON. 

of  the  Bible.  She  gave  herself  much  to  the 
reading  of  good  books,  yet  not  neglecting  the 
usual  employment  of  her  sex  and  place.  Mr. 
Clarke's  last  volume  of  Lives  she  read  again 
and  again  with  much  pleasure,  and  was  well 
versed  in  it :  and  ready,  upon  all  occasions, 
to  produce  pertinent  and  profitable  passages 
out  of  that  and  other  good  books  for  the  edi- 
lication  of  others :  she  was  able,  with  the 
good  householder,  to  bring  out  of  her  treasury 
thintrs  new  and  old.  She  made  a  larrre  col- 
lection,  in  writing,  of  what  she  met  with  most 
remarkable  in  her  reading. 

How  amiable  and  exemplary  her  deport- 
ment was  in  all  relations ! — as  a  daughter, 
as  a  sister,  as  a  friend,  they  who  knew  her 
can  easily  bear  record  :  and,  though  it  never 
appeared  to  the  discouragement  of  the  rest, 
yet  it  could  not  but  be  discerned  that  Mr. 
Henry  had  a  special  dear  love  for  his  little 
Nancy,  and  sometimes  said  she  was  the  dia- 
mond in  his  ring. 

In  the  twentieth  year  of  her  age  she  was 
married  to  Mr.  John  Hulton,  a  tradesman  in 
Chester,  April  26,  1688;  and  she  was  equally 
yoked.  On  that  occasion,  her  father  selected 
as  a  topic  for  advice,  Eph.  v.  24,  25.  '  There- 
fore as  the  church  is  subject  unto  Christ,  &c.* 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  261 

And  thus  pleasantly  remarked  ; — 'I  am  loth  to 
inv^ert  the  apostle's  method  and  order,  and, 
therefore,  shall  keep  to  that.  Though  the 
husband  be  the  superior,  and  have  the  pre- 
eminence in  other  things,  he  must  not  be  of- 
fended, if  his  wife  go  before  him  learning  her 
duty.  The  church  (that  is,  of  the  first-born, 
considered  as  such,  all  the  true  saints  in  the 
world)  is  subject  to  Christ.  He  is  owned  by 
them  as  their  Lord  and  Ruler,  both  in  word 
and  deed.  They  have  learned  to  deny  their 
own  wills,  whereinsoever  they  come  in  com- 
petition with  his,  both  as  to  what  they  must 
have,  and  as  to  what  they  must  do.  Now 
just  thus,  in  like  manner,  are  wives  to  be  sub- 
ject to  their  own  husbands.  It  is  called 
reverence,  1  Peter  iii.  Their  speech  is  to  be 
accordingly,  1  Peter  iii.  5, 6.  They  are  to  be 
obedient  to  their  lawful  commands  and  ap- 
pointments. I  am  unwilling  to  call  them 
commands,  unless  in  a  soft  sense,  1  Peter  iii. 
6.  They  are  to  be  patient  under  their  re- 
bukes ;  be  never  both  angry  together,  1  Peter 
iii.  4,  5.  Thus  God  will  have  it ;  your  place 
requires  it,  1  Tim.  ii.  12,  13,  14.  Gen.  iii.  16. 
You  will  have  most  comfort  when  it  is  so. 
Observe  one  caution, — it  must  be  in  the  Lord, 


262  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTOX. 

not  absolutely  and  universally  without  excep- 
tion, but, — in  the  Lord. 

'  Husbands  must  learn  to  love  their  wives, 
by  Christ's  love  to  his  church,  that  was,  a 
sincere,  upright,  unfeigned  love ;  a  special, 
singular,  superlative  love  ;  a  permanent,  abid- 
ing, and  fruitful  love.  The  husband  should 
show  his  affection  to  his  wife,  by  dwelling 
with  her,  by  bearing  her  infirmities,  by  going 
in  and  out  before  her,  by  guiding  her  way, 
and  providing  all  things  that  arc  fit  for  her.' 

Take  the  account  of  that  turn  of  her  life  in 
her  own  words,  in  the  continuation  of  the 
afore-mentioned  papers : — 

"  After  nineteen  years  barrenness  in  the 
place  where  I  first  sprung  up,  God  was 
pleased,  by  his  providence,  to  put  me  into  the 
married  state,  and  transplant  me  into  a  new 
soil.  It  was  an  affair  I  thought  of  great 
weight,  and  I  was  much  afraid  of  seeking 
great  things  for  myself  in  this  world  therein. 
When  I  press  it  upon  my  conscience,  I  can- 
not but  acknowledge  that  I  did  therein  com- 
mit my  way  unto  the  Lord,  and  did  lay  my- 
self before  him  as  white  paper,  for  him  to 
write  his  will  upon  me ;  and,  accordingly,  his 
Providence  brought  it  to  a  comfortable 
issue,  aflcr  much  distraction  of  mind  about  it." 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  263 

April  21,  1C9S,  (a  few  days  before  licr 
marriage)  she  thus  writes: — "  I  did  set  my- 
self before  the  Lord  to  repent  of  all  the  sins 
of  my  single  state ;  and  if  sin  were  never 
bitter  before,  I  think  it  was  exceedingly 
bitter  then,  and,  through  grace,  I  did  then  re- 
new my  hold  of  God  as  mine." 

Soon  after  this,  she  removed  to  Chester. 
"  That  morning,"  she  writes, "  reading  alone, 
in  course  (Exodus  iii.)  of  Moses'  objections 
against  going  on  God's  errand,  I  was  much 
comforted  by  God's  answer,  ver.  12,  *  Cer- 
tainly, I  will  be  with  thee.'  Applying  that 
word  to  myself  was  very  refreshing.  Some 
time  before  this,  reading  Gen.  xxviii.  concern- 
ing Jacob's  vow,  it  affected  me,  and  I  then, 
with  some  seriousness,  entered  into  a  solemn 
promise,  that  if  God  would  be  with  me,  in 
that  present  way,  and  provide  for  me,  and 
make  the  issue  comfortable,  that  then  he 
should  be  my  God  ;  creatures  should  not  have 
the  throne  in  my  soul.  I  would  be  more 
watchful  against  sin,  and  be  more  diligent 
and  careful  in  his  service." 

Some  weeks  after  her  settlement  at  Chester 
she  thus  writes  under  the  foregoing  record  of 
her  solemn  vow : — "  Because  deceit  lies  in 
generals,  and  because  after  particular  foils  by 


264  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON. 

temptations  my  conscience  reproaches  me 
that  it  was  for  want  of  rcsokition,  I  now,  in 
God's  name,  go  forth  resolving,  not  only  in 
general  to  serve  the  Lord  in  iioliness  and 
righteousness  before  him  all  the  days  of  my 
life,  but  particularly,  in  the  strength  of  Jesus 
Christ,  I  resolve  against  the  following  sins  : — 
flesh-pleasing  and  inordinate  appetites  ;  passion 
and  frowardness  ;  drowsiness  and  weariness 
in  the  worship  of  God ;  despising  others ; 
thinking  or  speaking  ill  of  any ;  self-conceit 
and  pride  ;  a  lying  tongue  ;  all  injustice  in  the 
calling  wherein  God  iiath  put  me;  discontent 
in  the  condition  allotted  for  me." 

"  I  do  likewise,  in  the  same  strength, 
resolve  upon  the  following  duties : — self- 
denial ;  meekness;  livehness  in  duty;  repro- 
ving when  there  is  opportunity ;  humility,  and 
low  thoughts  of  myself;  truth,  ecjuity,  justice, 
and  charity  :  in  general,  making  conscience 
of  all  God's  commands. 

Thus  she  set  out  in  her  new  condition,  and 
how  strictly  she  adhered  to  the  rules  she  laid 
down  was  very  evident,  as  far  as  could  fall 
under  the  observation  of  others.  Sometime 
after,  she  thus  writes  : — "  Because,  through 
the  necessity  of  my  outward  afiairs,  my 
secret  duties  are  commonly  limited  and  con- 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  2G5 

tractcd  more  than  formerly,  I  have  been 
ready  to  fear  that  I  have  decUned  in  grace, 
and  left  my  first  love.  I  am  sensible  of  the 
prcvalency  of  unbelief,  and  of  God's  witii- 
drawings  ;  but,  though  he  slay  me  yet  will  I 
trust  in  him.  I  have  this  day  promised  se- 
riously to  spend  some  time  every  day  in  con- 
verse with  God.  I  see  in  a  trade  the  shop 
must  be  constantly  attended,  though,  perhaps, 
for  some  time  no  profits  come  in  ;  so  I  he 
trade  of  religion  must  still  be  followed,  though 
there  be  not,  for  the  present,  any  sensible 
comfort  and  benefit.  In  this  place  where 
God  hath  set  me,  he  doth  require  of  me, 

1.  That  I  get  much  knowledge  and  grace, 
because  I  have  means  for  getting  them. 

2.  That  I  be  very  humble,  because  my 
gifts  are  small,  and  my  attainments  poor, 
graces  weak,  and  failings  many. 

S.  That  I  be  ready  for  death,  because  I 
see  many  funerals.  And,  because  death  at  a 
distance  did  not  affect  me,  it  pleased  God  to 
bring  it  nigh  me  in  the  death  of  a  near,  and 
that  a  very  dear  relation,  viz.  sister  Henry, 
February  14,  1G88-9.  The  quarrel  God 
seemed  to  have  with  me  therein  was  upon  the 
account  of  relative  sins,  and  the  omission  of 
relative  duties  ;  whereupon  I  endeavoured  to 
23 


266  MEMOIRS    OF    MHS.    IIULTON. 

repent  of  them,  and  renew  my  covenant  in 
lliat  matter.  And,  because  that  providence 
did  not  do  the  work  for  which  it  was  sent, 
shortly  after,  another  dear  friend  wliom  I 
loved  as  my  own  soul,  was  suddenly  taken 
away  (Mrs.  Bradbury) ;  the  circumstances 
of  her  death  beincj  such  as  I  was  near  fallinsj 
into  myself,  viz.  child-bearing ;  it  did  much 
aflect  me  with  cares  and  thouijhts  about 
another  world,  which  had  been  too  little 
minded  by  me.  After  this  Providence,  I  was 
threatened  by  the  illness  of  my  dear  mother ; 
upon  her  recovery,  my  sense  of  the  mercy 
obliged  me  to  promise  to  be  more  freely 
willing  to  resign  to  the  will  of  God  another 
time  ;  and  surely  there  is  all  the  reason  in  the 
world,  when  the  great  God  condescends  to 
grant  my  request,  that  I  should  say.  His  will 
be  done.  Sin  hath  much  prevailed.  Omis- 
sions witness  against  me,  and  a  constant  re- 
missness in  my  walking.  I  cannot  answer 
for  one  of  a  thousand  ;  but — help  is  laid  upon 
one  that  is  mighty." 

She  became  a  mother,  July  29,  1689,  (but 
the  child  died  in  the  birth)  ;  on  which  provi- 
dence she  thus  writes  : — "  A  day  never  to  be 
forgotten  ;  wherein  I  felt  the  bitter  fruits  of 
the  sin  of  my  grandmother  Eve ;  that  part  of 


MEMOmS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  267 

her  sentence  being  fully  fulfilled,  '  I  will 
greatly  multiply  thy  sorrow.'  'In  sorrow 
thou  shalt  bring  forth.'  The  peril  and  danger 
Avas  much  greater  than  ordinary;  so  that, 
there  was  but  a  step  between  me  and  death. 
JMy  flesh  and  heart  were  ready  to  fail,  and 
friends  ready  to  despair ;  but  God  became  the 
strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion ;  and  I 
trust  he  will  be  so  for  ever.  But,  behold, 
what  have  these  sheep  done  1  The  innocent 
I  cannot  say,  but  the  less  guilty  must  die  ;  O 
Adam,  Adam !  what  hast  thou  done  !  My 
comforts  are  taken  away  before  I  had  well  re- 
ceived them  :  was  it  all  lost  labour'?  Surely 
no ;  I  have  good  hope  that  Heaven  is  some- 
thing fuller  for  my  babe.  I  shall  go  to  her, 
but  she  shall  not  return  to  me.  My  God  is 
instead  of  all  to  me;  and  were  he  not  mine, 
sure  it  were  impossible  to  bear  up  without 
sinking  under  those  pains  I  endured,  but  the 
mercy  swallowed  up  the  affliction,  and  re- 
joiced against  judgment.  I  often  promised 
to  love  him,  and  to  live  to  him ;  and  I  do  it 
once  more." 

From  the  consideration  of  this  event,  con- 
cerning her  first  child,  she  hath  sometimes 
said,  "  What  need  mothers  have  to  pray  for 
their  children  before  they  are  born." 


268  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 

Iler  next  remark  is,  yVpril  20,  1690.  "  I 
sickened  of  tlie  small-pox,  and,  though  in 
perilous  circumstances,  yet  was  wonderfully 
brought  through  it :  when  I  had  received 
the  sentence  of  death  within  myself,  surely 
the  Lord  w^as  ready  to  save  me ;  and  the 
mercies,  the  sweet  mercies  which  I  experi- 
enced in  the  affliction,  I  shall  never  forget. 

"  I  may  truly  say  with  David,  *  Unless  thy 
law^  had  been  my  delight,  I  should  then  have 
perished  in  mine  affliction.'  But  God  doth 
seem  by  his  Providence  to  call  me  to  be  hea- 
venly-minded;  to  be  more  humble  ;  to  take  up 
with  him  as  my  happiness ;  to  be  less  afraid 
of  death  ; — to  abound  always  in  the  work  of 
the  Lord.  Thou  hast  in  love  to  my  soul  de- 
livered it  from  the  pit  of  destruction,  for  thou 
hast  cast  all  my  sins  behind  thy  back."  Isa. 
xxxviii.  17. 

Li  tiiis  illness,  when  she  was  asked  how  she 
did,  her  usual  answer  was,  "  I  shall  be  well." 

June  29,  1691.  "  I  received,"  she  writes, 
"  special  mercy  from  God,  in  answer  to 
prayer.  He  was  to  me  a  present  help,  and 
did  not  only  spare,  but  multiply,  and  gave  me 
a  living  son,  or  rather,  lent  him  to  me  for  a 
while:  and  I  have  resigned  him  and  myself 
to  the  will  and  disposal  of  our  Heavenly  Fa- 


MEMOmS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  2G9 

thcr.  How  great  is  his  goodness,  and  how 
great  is  his  beauty!  Zech.  ix.  17.  I  look 
upon  every  sin,  after  such  a  mercy  as  this,  (o 
be  more  deeply  aggravated  than  before. — My 
great  unprofitableness,  under  the  means  of 
grace,  is  that  at  the  serious  consideration  of 
which  my  heart  doth  even  melt,  and  my 
spirits  sink ;  finding  comfort  in  that  Psalm, 
(ciii.  12.)  '  As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the 
west,  so  far  hath  he  removed  my  transgres- 
sions from  me ;' — I  thought,  with  joy,  if  it 
were  so  good  for  me  to  have  my  transgres- 
sions removed  as  far  as  the  east  is  from  the 
west,  how  much  better  would  it  be  when  they 
shall  be  removed  as  far  from  me  as  hell  is 
from  heaven." 

On  a  Sacrament-day,  May  6,  1694,  in 
which  it  seems  she  had  more  communion  with 
God  than  ordinary,  she  thus  writes : — "  For- 
get not  ever,  O  my  soul !  the  sight  that  thou 
hast  had  this  day  from  Pisgah's  mount  of 
Canaan's  land.  What  shall  I  render  to  the 
Lord  ?  I  have,  at  the  Lord's  table,  seen  my  Re- 
deemer as  he  was  in  his  blood  and  sufferings  ; 
but  shortly  I  hope  to  see  him  as  he  is,  though 
not  as  I  am.  See  to  it  then,  O  my  soul !  that 
thou  purify  thyself,  even  as  he  is  j)ure." 

May  5,  1695,  she  thus  writes  : — "  This  last 
23* 


270  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTOX. 

month  past  I  have  received  great  mercy  from 
God  in  the  recovery  of  both  the  children  from 
the  small-pox ;  the  one  brought  into  great 
peril,  the  other  brought  through  imminent 
danger,  by  a  fever  which  seized  him  about 
three  weeks  after  the  bei2;inning  of  the  small- 
pox.  What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  his 
great  benefits  ?  He  hath  been  trying  me 
whether  I  could  freely  give  up  my  children, 
which  I  hope  I  having  done,  he  turned  the 
scale  and  restored  them  to  me.  God  having 
corrected  me  by  the  child's  relapse,  my  own 
heart  condemncth  me  for  my  own  backsli- 
dings.  Oh,  that  now  I  might  remember 
whence  I  am  fallen,  and  repent  and  do  my 
first  works  !  I  have  been  this  day  shewing 
forth  the  Lord's  death,  and  renewing  my  cov- 
enant with  him :  surely  it  is  meet  to  be 
said  unto  God,  '  I  have  borne  chastisement, 
I  will  not  offend  any  more.'  Amen,  Amen." 
November  19,  1695.  In  her  confinement, 
after  the  birth  of  a  child  that  died  when  nine 
days  old,  she  thus  writes : — "  God  hath  of 
late  been  proving  and  trying  me,  to  do  me 
good  in  my  latter  end.  I  looked  for  peace 
but  beheld  trouble.  My  house  not  made  to 
grow ;  but  the  Lord  who  gave  quickly  took 
away  again,  adored  be  the  name  of  the  Lord. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  271 

And  now,  what  doth  the  Lord  my  God  re- 
quire ?  My  greatest  concern  is  to  improve 
this  providence.  God  hatli  (and  so  have  I) 
been  calHng  my  sin  to  remembrance,  that  I 
may  be  humbled  under  his  mighty  hand,  and 
cleave  closer  to  him  in  love,  dependence,  and 
resolution ;  lor  even  this  is  performed  tor  me, 
and  what  have  I  to  shew  now  for  my  interest 
in  him  and  relation  to  him  ?  Is  not  my  hope 
a  groundless  hope  ?  I  do  not  ground  it  upon 
myself  and  my  own  righteousness,  but  Jesus 
Christ  is  he,  concerning  whom  I  say,  '  Whom 
have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  V 

March  1,  lODG.  "  Dare  not,  my  soul,  to 
deny  that  thou  hast  this  day  met  w'ith  thy 
God  at  his  table.  Silence,  thou  loud  and 
clamorous  unbelief.  Never  open  thy  mouth 
any  more.  God  is  willing  to  be  mine,  and 
who  can  say  against  it?  For,  if  he  will 
work,  who  can  let  it  1  Only  remember,  that 
having  received  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  I  must 
walk  in  him." 

Thus  far  goes  her  paper  of  experience,  in 
which  she  seems  to  have  given  vent  to  her 
thoughts  when  they  were  more  than  usually 
enlarged.  And  if  such  as  this  was  her  con- 
verse with  God,  it  will  be  of  use  to  inquire 
what   was   her  conversation   in   the   world. 


272  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON. 

Not  to  mention  the  common  characters  of  all 
the  saints,  which  appeared  eminently  in  her, 
nor  the  careful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  her 
jiarticular  relation ;  there  are  some  things 
which  have  been  observed  concerning  her, 
which  were  peculiarly  exemplary  and  in- 
structive. 

1.  That  though  she  was  so  constant  in  her 
secret  worship,  and  took  so  much  delight  in 
her  closet  work,  yet  she  ordered  it  with  so 
much  discretion,  that  it  did  not  interfere  with 
nor  hinder  her  from,  any  needful  attendance 
upon  her  worldly  affairs — in  the  house  or 
shop.  Every  thing  is  beautiful  in  its  season  : 
and  there  is  a  way  of  abiding  with  God,  and 
serving  the  Lord  Christ  in  the  particular  call- 
ing wherein  we  are  called,  as  well  as  in  his 
immediate  worship.  The  virtuous  woman 
will  look  well  to  the  ways  of  her  household, 
and  yet  not  neglect  the  ways  of  her  heart. 

2.  That  she  was  very  industrious  to  pro- 
mote the  family  worship  in  all  the  parts  of  it ; 
contriving  for  it  in  its  season,  that  nothing 
might  put  it  out  of  time  ;  calling  to  it ;  being 
ready  to  attend  on  it ;  and  careful  to  prevent 
all  disturbance  in  it.  If  inferior  relations 
would  thus  do  their  part,  it  would  be  a  great 
help  to  the  master  of  the  family  in  the  dis- 


MEMOIUS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  273 

charge  of  his  duty.  In  licr  husband's  absence 
she  carefully  and  constantly  performed  all 
the  parts  of  family  worship  herself.  It  being 
their  custom  to  pray  together  morning  and 
evening,  she  frequently  prayed  with  him. 
She  prayed  much  for  their  children,  and 
carefully  instructed  them  in  the  things  of  God 
as  they  grew  capable.  Her  tender  care  of 
two  orphans,  the  relations  of  her  husband, 
which  the  providence  of  God  brought  into 
their  family,  was  very  remarkable,  especi- 
ally her  great  concern  for  their  spiritual  wel- 
fare. 

3.  That  she  was  very  few  of  her  words, 
not  only  in  making  of  bargains,  but  in  her 
converse  ;  swift  to  hear  and  slow  to  speak : 
but  when  she  did  speak  it  was  with  wisdom, 
and  to  the  purpose.  She  was  like  the  still 
waters  which  run  deep  but  make  no  noise. 
One  might  observe  in  all  her  discourse,  that 
she  thought  twice  before  she  spoke  once; 
and  so  prevented  a  deal  of  that  guilt  and 
grief  which  attend  the  multitude  of  words. 
Her  s})ecch  was  always  with  grace.  She 
breathed  forth  a  religious  air  in  her  common 
converse ;  and  usually  expressed  herself  in  her 
converse  with  her  friends  in  Scripture  lan- 
guage.    The  word  of  God  dwelt  richly  in  her, 


274  MEMOIRS    OF    MUS.    IIULTON. 

and,  by  the  Divine  blessing  on  her  great  dili- 
gence in  reading  the  Scriptures  and  other 
good  books,  (which  was  her  daily  practice) 
she  acquired  a  good  stock  of  Scrij)ture  know- 
ledge ;  out  of  which  treasury  she  readily 
brought  forth  things  new  and  old,  which  rend- 
ered her  conversation  both  pleasing  and  pro- 
fitable. 

4.  That  she  preserved  an  evenness  and 
composure  of  spirit  under  all  events ;  one 
should  seldom  or  never  see  her  ruffled  or  dis- 
turbed by  any  provocation,  lifted  up  with  any 
joy,  or  cast  down  with  any  sorrow  ;  but, 
whatever  happened  to  weigh  down  one  scale, 
her  wisdom  and  grace  suggested  something 
to  put  in  the  other  scale  to  keep  the  balance 
even.  Upon  the  death  of  her  father,  an  afflic- 
tion that  went  so  near  her  heart,  how  calm- 
ly did  she  apply  those  words  of  Thomas  to 
his  fellow  disciples  when  I>azarus  was  dead, 
*  Let  us  go  and  die  with  him.' 

5.  That  she  was  very  cheerful  in  her  con- 
verse, and  was  far  from  that  sourness  and 
melancholy  which  some  good  people  indulge 
themselves  in  to  the  reproach  of  their  profes- 
sion ;  she  made  it  to  appear  that  she  found 
the  ways  of  wisdom  pleasantness. 

6.  She  was  very  charitable  to  the  poor,  and 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS,    UULTON.  275 

stretched  forth  her  hand  to  the  needy.  She 
was  always  very  careful  not  to  make  the 
poor  at  her  door  stay  long  for  their  alms, 
for  in  that  time,  she  would  say,  they  might 
get  another  aims  elsewhere.  She  loved  to 
visit  the  godly  poor,  when  they  were  sick, 
and  discourse  with  them,  and  relieve  them. 
She  was  one  that  devised  liberal  things,  and 
sought  opportunities  of  doing  good. 

7.  On  the  Lord's  Day  she  commonly  had 
her  heart  much  enlarged  in  rejoicing  and 
thanksgiving,  and  she  used  to  refresh  herself 
much  on  that  day  with  singing  of  psalms 
alone  at  the  time  of  vacancy  from  other 
duties. 

8.  She  was  very  forward  to  promote 
works  of  piety  and  charity,  and  to  stir  up 
others  thereto.  Her  zeal  herein  provoked 
many;  she  delighted  in  opportunities  of 
shewing  kindness  to  others,  and  was  very 
courteous  in  her  behaviour  towards  all. 

9.  She  was  very  frugal  of  her  time,  and 
was  observed  by  those  about  her  to  be  con- 
tinually employed. 


276  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 


SECTION   I. 

Sojne  savoury  nseful  2>assagcs  gleaned  np  oxd  of 
some  of  her  letters  to  Iter  relations  and  friends. 

To  a  gentlewoman,  under  some  doubts  about 
her  interest  in  Christ  she  thus  writes : — *'  I 
know  not  what  is  better  for  a  man  when  he 
is  out  of  the  way,  and  is  convinced  of  it, 
than  to  turn  back  and  get  as  fast  as  he  can 
into  the  right  way :  if  thou  art  persuaded 
thou  art  not  yet  in  Christ,  give  up  thyself  to 
him  quickly  in  a  marriage  covenant.  The 
word  is  nigh  thee  to  direct  thee ;  the  throne 
of  grace  is  nigh  thee,  and  to  it  thou  mayest 
draw  near  for  assistance.  I  believe  there  is 
nothing  God  is  more  willing  to  give  than  his 
Spirit." 

Upon  the  occasion  of  a  marriage  in  her 
father's  house,  she  hath  this  observation  in 
another  letter,  "  She  that  is  married  careth 
for  the  things  of  the  world.  Indeed,  her 
opportunities  of  doing  good  will  be  more 
than   they  w^ere,   but   of  getting   good   less. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  277 

*  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.* 
I  find,  as  to  myself,  that  a  little  thing  abates 
my  zeal  and  flattens  my  spirit  in  duties, 
^vhich  makes  me  fear  the  snares  of  the  world. 
It  is  an  enemy  to  our  souls,  and  our  graces ; 
to  our  duties,  and  to  our  comforts ;  to  our 
holy  living,  and  to  our  comfortable  dying." 

She  had  a  tender  sense  of  sin,  as  appears 
by  this  passage  in  a  letter  to  the  same  per- 
son :  "  Indeed,  it  is  difficult  to  be  sensible  of 
sins  we  think  small ;  they  are  like  knots  in  a 
fine  thread,  or  hair, — hard  to  untie:  greater 
sins,  like  knots  in  a  rope.  I  am  greatly  afraid 
of  open  presumptuous  sins,  such  as  may- 
break  my  peace  as  long  as  I  live.  I  may  fitly 
compare  myself  to  a  body  full  of  ill  humours ; 
though  a  sore  in  one  place  is  seemingly 
healed,  yet  it  breaks  out  in  another;  so  when 
I  am  better  in  one  respect,  I  am  worse  in 
another.' 

Iler  mean  opinion  of  herself  she  expresses 
in  another  letter  to  the  same  person: 
"  Should  I  go  about  to  tell  you  how  bad  T 
am,  it  were  more  than  I  could  do ;  surely  I 
am  ready  to  go  out  of  love  with  myself  every 
day ;  there  is  some  shift  to  be  made  to  flee 
from  other  things  that  molest,  but  not  from 

one's  self      Reallv,  madam,  religion  is   the 
24 


278  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTOX. 

most  amiable  thing  in  the  world.  If  I  could 
be  very  good,  and  yet  think  myself  bad,  how 
well  were  it." 

In  another,  she  thus  writes  about  medita- 
tion: "  I  confess  I  am  too  little  acquainted 
with  it,  especially  the  practical  part,  which 
is  the  sweetest.  As  to  what  I  have  tasted,  I 
cannot  tell  the  one  half  of  the  sweetness  of 
it,  and  many  times  I  have  found  more  of  God 
therein  than  in  prayer.  Before  I  can  fix,  there 
is  some  preparation  necessary,  and  many  a 
chain  of  vain  thoughts  to  grapple  with,  which 
do  often  prevail  and  rob  me  of  all  my  medi- 
tating time.  As  to  my  helps  in  it, — ;ny  God 
is  he  that  worketh  both  to  will  and  to  do : 
what  more  unruly  than  the  thoughts?  it  is 
very  hard  to  govern  them!  1.  I  find  a  fixed 
heart  a  great  help ;  the  contrary  I  find  a 
great  hindrance :  now  where  shall  we  find 
this,  but  whence  every  good  and  perfect  gift 
comes  ?  2.  An  heart  like  the  treasury  of  the 
good  householder,  wherein  are  things  laid  up 
both  new  and  old.  There  must  be  know- 
ledge to  furnish  us  with  matter.  It  is  easier 
to  know  what  helps  there  are,  than  to  find 
ourselves  helped  by  them.  Most  of  my 
meditations  arc  confused  and  torn ;  sometimes 
some  attribute  of  God  is  the  subject  of  them, 


MEMOIRS    OV    MRS.    HULTON.  279 

as  his   wisdom,  power,  holiness;   sometimes 
some  sin,  some  scripture,"  &c. 

To  her  eldest  sister,  Mrs.  Savage  wlio  was 
married,  she  thus  wrote : — "  I  am  so  well  ac- 
quainted with  myself  as  to  know  I  am  very 
unfit  for  the  condition  thou  art  in,  and  hast 
so  much  comfort  in  ;  the  conditions  are  as  tiie 
persons  are.  I  sadly  fear  displeasing  God  or 
doing  any  thing  which  will  wound  conscience. 
I  am  ready  to  think  there  cannot  but  be 
more  hindrances  in  our  great  business,  in  that 
condition  than  in  my  present  condition.  Dost 
thou  not  find  it  so  ?  If  it  be  not  for  the  glory 
of  God,  I  hope  something  will  be  thrown  in 
the  way  to  hinder  it ;  for,  however  it  is,  God 
is  good.  It  is  no  small  comfort  to  have  infin- 
ite Wisdom  and  Power  engaged  for  one's 
good." 

To  another  dear  friend :  "  I  fear  thou  hast 
too  good  an  opinion  of  me,  which  makes  my 
work  more  difficult  to  beat  down  myself.  Be 
not  guilty  of  blowing  up  that  bladder  which 
is  so  apt  to  fill  of  itself.  I  shall  take  it  as  a 
part  of  friendship  if  thou  wilt  chide,  instruct, 
an  I  counsel  me.  Put  thyself  in  my  case. 
Thus  far  I  am  determined,  and  no  farther, 
namely,  to  be  guided  by  infinite  Wisdom.  I 
heard  something  suitable  to-day  from  Psalm 


280  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 

XXV.  '  He  will  teach  sinners :'  within  that 
number  I  come,  if  not  within  the  latter,  '  The 
meek  will  he  guide.'  Be  thou  a  fervent  inter- 
cessor for  me  at  the  throne  of  grace ;  and 
pray  meet  me  there  at  six  o'clock  on  Satur- 
day night,  if  thou  canst  conveniently.  This 
morning  I  met  with  a  suitable  promise,  Isa. 
Iviii.  11,  •  And  the  Lord  shall  guide  thee  con- 
tinually, and  satisfy  thy  soul  in  drought,  and 
make  fat  thy  bones :  and  thou  shalt  be  like  a 
watered  garden,  and  like  a  spring  of  water, 
whose  waters  fail  not :' — for  the  fulfilling  of 
which  to  me  I  have  no  desert  to  plead,  but 
Divine  mercy,  goodness,  and  faithfulnci-s; 
and  is  not  that  sufficient  ?  Who  but  a  fool 
will  be  in  want  of  any  thing,  when  he  may 
have  it  for  asking  1  I  cannot  but  reckon  it 
one  of  the  greatest  of  my  earthly  blessings, 
that  I  am  the  child  of  such  a  family,  a  branch 
of  this  vine  ;  and  have  often  acknowledged  it 
as  a  great  mercy  that  as  I  was  the  youngest, 
so  I  thought  the  most  likely  to  stay  longest 
here:  and  \Aho  knows  but  I  may?  I  desire 
to  trust  God,  however  it  be :  the  seed  of  the 
upright  shall  be  blessed.  Though  myself  I 
think  unworthy,  yet  I  am  come  of  parents 
that  are  in  covenant ;  but  this  will  not  save 
me,  unless  there  be  a  principle   within ;  it  is 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  281 

encouragement  to  think  that  the  smoking  flax 
shall  not  be  quenched.  Mr.  Vines*  observes, 
"  That  Christ  would  not  have  them  drowned 
whom  he  calls, '  O  ye  of  little  faith.'  Matthew 
viii." 

To  the  same  bosom-friend  she  writes, — *'  t 
have  not  taken  tlie  world  for  my  portion,  and 
I  think  I  have  been  made  willing  to  take  up 
with  little  of  it  for  my  passage  :  in  my  father's 
house  the  lines  are  fallen  unto  me  in  a  pleas- 
ant place,  and  though  I  never  absolutely  re- 
solved against  a  removal  from  it,  yet  I  can- 
not but  have  dreadful  apprehensions  concern- 
ing it ;  the  proposal  of  it  hath  occasioned  mo 
many  a  troublesome  thought,  and  is  like  to  do 
more.  I  am  passive :  delay  in  some  cases  is 
dangerous,  but  here  desirable.  Rebekah's 
relations.  Gen.  xxiv.  55,  said, '  Let  the  damsel 
abide  with  us  a  few  days,  at  least  ten.'  But  I 
was  pleased  to  find  it  in  the  margin,  '  a  full 
year,  or  ten  months.'  Sure  that  is  a  quiet 
and  desirable  world  where  there  is  neither 
marrying  nor  giving  in  marriage ;  of  what 
little  avail  will  it  be  there,  whether  we  were 
here  single  or  married?      My  desire  is  to 

*  A  learned  and  excellent  divine,  who  died,  A.  D.  1G55.  See 
Clarke's  Lives,  fol.  p.  43,  Brook's  Lives  of  the  Puritans  vol. 
iii.  p.  230.    Ed. 

24* 


282  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 

depart  and  be  with  Christ,  which  I  am  sure 
is  best  of  all.  Dost  thou  see  the  providence 
of  God  going  before  me  ?  A  stander-by  may 
sec  more  than  a  person  concerned :  it  is  very 
comfortable  to  have  that  to  plead  which  .lacob 
had  when  in  trouble,  Gen.  xxxii.  9.  '  The 
Lord  which  saidst  unto  mc,  Return.'  The 
Urim  and  Thummim  is  now  abolished :  we 
must  expect  direction  in  an  ordinary  way: 
who  liath  knowui  the  mind  of  the  Lord  ? 
Certainly  this  is  his  mind, — that  we  should 
live  to  his  glory ;  this  is  his  will, — even  our 
sanctification — and  it  should  be  ours." 

To  the  same  gentlewoman,  her  dear 
bosom-friend,  she  thus  expresses  herself  be- 
fore she  was  married  : — 

"  Thou  art  writ  upon  my  heart  in  capitals 
easy  to  be  read,  as  those  that  converse  with 
me  may  see;  thou  hast  given  me  the  right- 
hand  of  fellowship  in  holy  ordinances,  but 
hadst  thou  seen  through  mc,  surely  thou 
wouldst  not  have  suffered  me  to  sit  so  nigh 
thee ;  was  there  ever  such  a  misspender  of 
time,  such  a  trifler  away  of  opportunities  as  I 
am  ?  When  thou  thinkest  well  of  me,  thou 
seest  me  not  in  my  own  clothes.  I  am  much 
afraid  of  getting  hurt  by  the  good  opinion 
thou  hast  of  me.     Thou  seest  in  my  book  the 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  283 

fulfilment  of  the  Scriptures,  Isaiah    xliv.   5. 

0  that  thou  couldst  see  in  my  life  the  fulfilling 
of  my  own  engagements  !  It  is  easier  to  vow 
than  to  pay,  but  it  is  great  encouragement  to 
think  that  God  is  a  covenant-friend.  He  is 
not  so  to  every  one.  Who  are  we  that  God 
should  take  us  into  covenant  with  himself? 
It  is  not  because  ho  hath  need  of  us,  but, 
because  we  have  need  of  him.  And  must 
covenant  people  walk  as  other  Gentiles  ? 
Surely  no  !'' 

Soon  after  her  marriage  she  wrote  thus  : — 
"  I  scarce  know  yet  where  I  am,  but  this  I 
know,  that  I  am  under  the  care  of  my  Hea- 
venly Father.  It  is  now  come  to  the  trial, 
more  than  ever,  whether  I  make  conscience 
of  duty  or  no,  I  mean  my  secret  duty.     When 

1  had  larger  opportunities  for  it,  I  could  not 
for  shame,  but  at  least  seem  to  improve  them, 
though,  alas  !  what  lost  time  was  there  in  the 
closet  which  others  thought  not  so  !  It  can- 
not but  be  bitter  now ;  yet  I  would  not  for 
something  have  all  undone  that  hath  been 
done  there,  but  I  wish  it  had  been  done  better. 
Blessed  be  God  for  the  Redeemer  that  is  come 
to  Sion  to  turn  away  ungodliness  from  Jacob  ; 
as  it  is  quoted,  Romans  ii.  26,  though  it  is 
otherwise,  Isaiah   Hi.   9.     My   thoughts   arc 


284  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON. 

very  much  of  dear  parents,  and  brothers 
and  sisters  ;  but  there  is  danger  lest  if  I  think 
too  much  I  should  be  discontent  with  my  pre- 
sent condition,  which  is  best  for  me.  I  have 
seen  a  Httle  more  of  the  world  than  I  had 
seen  a  little  while  ago,  and,  truly,  there  is 
nothing  in  it  which  aflbrds  solid  comfort  and 
satisfaction  to  the  soul ;  one  sight,  by  faith, 
of  the  lowliness  of  Jesus  Christ,  is  enough  to 
make  one  out  of  love  with  every  thing  else  in 
comparison  of  him." 

Upon  the  death  of  Mrs.  Bradburne  *  siic 
thus  wrote  to  a  dear  friend  : — "  As  was  her 
way,  such  was  her  end,  even  peace,  submis- 
sion to  the  will  of  God,  rejoicing  in  Christ 
Jesus  ;  expressed  in  such  language  as  this, — 
*  None  but  Christ,  none  but  Christ,  he  is  my 
all  in  all.'  Thus  did  she  go  triumphantly  to 
heaven.  I  shall  never  forget  her  whom  I  so 
dearly  loved  ;  her  death  made  some  impression 
upon  this  rocky  heart  of  mine.  '  If  this  be 
done  to  the  green  tree,  what  shall  be  done  to 
the  dry?'  Sure  it  should  make  me  think 
more  of  heaven.  We  use  to  fancy  to  our- 
selves how  our  friends  and  acquaintance  that 
are  at  a  distance  from  us  in  the  world,  do 
live ;  though  we  never  saw  how,  yet,  from 

*  Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Savage,  p.  43. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  285 

what  we  have  heard,  we  imagine  what  they 
do ;  what  company  they  have ;  what  privi- 
leges, &c.  And  what  a  happy  state  do  I 
imagine  the  soul  of  my  dear  friend  to  be  in, 
whose  face  always  shone,  and  yet  was  cover- 
ed with  a  veil  of  humility.  It  is  some  com- 
fort to  me,  that  as  I  loved  and  delighted  in 
her  company  here,  so  I  shall  enjoy  it  refined 
for  ever.  Though  friends  fail,  yet  God  is  the 
strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  for 
ever.  As  to  myself,  I  might  be  useful  in  the 
world  if  I  had  a  heart  according  to  the  price 
in  my  hand.  Indeed  I  have  lived  at  ease  in 
Sion,  as  it  speaks  mercy.  I  wish  it  might 
not  be  said  so  of  me,  as  it  speaks  a  sinful 
frame.  I  have  been  ready  to  say,  My  moun- 
tain stands  strong,  I  shall  never  be  moved  ; 
when  it  is  but  God's  hiding  of  his  face,  and 
I  shall  be  troubled.  When  friends  are  gone, 
tiie  sting  of  affliction  lies  in  the  reflection 
upon  my  misimprovement  of  them  whilst  with 
them.  Let  us  therefore  redeem  the  time,  be- 
cause the  days  are  evil.  The  world  is  cer- 
tainly nothing,  and  nothingness  is  all  that  is  in 
it.  Continue  to  pray  for  me  for  all  things 
that  may  be  suitable  :  spiritual  mercies  can- 
not be  unsuitable.  I  pray  forget  not  in  all 
your  enjoyments  to  enjoy  God  as  the  gladness 


286  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON. 

of  your  joy  ;  for,  wliat  is  all  without  him,  but 
vanity  and  vexation  1  Even  ordinances  them- 
selves are  dry  and  sapless  unless  he  fills  them, 
though  there  is  the  likeliest  place  to  find  him  : 
more  of  God,  but  not  more  than  God  we 
should  seek  for.  It  is  v^ery  comfortable,  me- 
thinks,  when  with  new  acquaintance  we  meet 
with  those  that  are  travelling  in  the  same  road 
with  us,  and  aiming  at  the  same  ultimate  end. 
It  is  sure  God  hath  his  remnant  every  where, 
and  heaven  will  not  want  inhabitants,  though 
such  unworthy  wretches  as  I  come  short 
through  unbelief.  You  are  singing  of  mercy 
and  judgment;  therefore  providences  are  so 
mixed  towards  us  in  this  world, — a  gleam 
of  peace  to  fit  us  for  a  brunt  of  trouble 
— that  we  may  not  settle  ui)on  our  lees. 
Where  you  are  you  learn  to  know  what 
David  complained  of,  when  he  sojourned  in 
Mesech,  and  dwelt  in  the  tents  of  Kcdar. 
In  such  a  place  there  is  good  to  be  done 
where  there  is  none  to  be  gotten  :  and  there 
is  this  advantage  to  it,  that  by  doing  good  we 
get  good  ;  by  kindling  others  our  own  hearts 
will  burn  within  us,  and  who  knows  whether 
you  may  be  cast  there  for  such  an  occasion 
as  this  ?" 

To  another  of  her  sisters,  upon  the  death 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  287 

of  her  sister  Henry,  in  tiic  year  lG89,she  wrote 
thus: — "  There  were  few  famiUes  so  Httic  ac- 
quainted wiih  tiie  scourges  of  Divine  Provid- 
ence as  ours  was  ;  but  now  the  days  of  visita- 
tion are  conic,  and  coming  more  and  more. 
These  are  teaching  providences;  should  we  not 
learn  obedience  by  them — passive  obedience, 
— lest  the  next  furnace  w-e  are  cast  into  be 
seven  times  hotter?  It  would,  I  think,  be  a 
greater  aliliction  to  have  such  relations  as  are 
with  us  our  grief  and  burden,  whilst  with  us, 
than  it  is  to  have  those  that  were  our  comfort 
taken  from  us.  We  must  consider  that  God 
hath  a  greater  interest  in  all  our  creature-com- 
forts than  we  have  ;  they  are  but  lent  us,  and  he 
may  call  them  when  he  hath  occasion  for 
them ;  and  who  are  we  that  we  should  con- 
tend with  him  ? 

To  her  sister  in  the  country. — "  I  rejoice 
to  hear  of  the  continuance  of  your  welfare  ; 
the  same  that  is  good  is  still  doing  us  good, 
and  loading  us  with  his  benefits  :  we  must  not 
expect  that  our  health  and  prosperity  should 
always  last.  Shall  we  receive  good  and  not 
evil  also,  forasmuch  as  we  do  evil  and  not 
good  ?  If  we  could  learn  this  good  lesson  in 
the  enjoyment  of  our  creature-comforts, — to 
enjoy  God  in  all,  and,  in  the  want  of  them,  to 


289  MEMOIRS    OF    MIIS.    HULTON. 

enjoy  all  in  God,  it  would  thereby  appear  that 
we  lived  by  faith.  It  isdillicult  to  learn  how 
to  want,  and  it  is  no  loss  so  to  learn  how  to 
abound." 

In  a  time  of  affliction  she  thus  writes  : — 
"  'Tis  pity  that  prosperity  should  do  us  hurt, 
for  no  affliction  for  the  present  seenns  joyous, 
but  grievous  ;  and  if  the  heart  had  been  duly 
humbled  by  constant  mortification  and  inured 
to  the  cross,  these  outward  afflictions  would 
not  have  been  so  hard  to  bear." 

Upon  her  recovery  from  the  small-pox  she 
writes : — "  I  write  to  let  you  know  that  I  am 
going  from  strength  to  strength,  through  the 
Divine  goodness  ;  yet  reprieved,  because  not 
ready  for  heaven.  Help  me  to  praise  God 
for  sustaining  and  delivering  mercy,  and  also 
to  pray  that  I  might  greatly  profit  by  this 
visitation,  that  my  God  may  not  complain 
that  yet  I  have  not  returned  unto  him.  I 
cannot  but  acknowledge  with  thankfulness 
the  interests  I  have  in  the  love  and  prayers  of 
good  people  here,  though  unworthy  of  it." 

At  a  time  of  public  trouble,  she  writes : — 
"  It  is  a  mercy  there  are  not  fears  within,  as 
well  as  fightings  without ;  though,  truly  con- 
sidered, public  calamities  were  worse  than 
personal,  yet,  commonly,  personal  do  more 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  289 

aflect. — When  the  sword  doth  not  depart 
from  the  house,  as  in  David's  case,  it  is  an 
excellent  thing  to  have  a  God  to  trust  to,  es- 
pecially an  interest  in  him  in  whose  hands 
our  times  are :  not  only  events  themselves, 
but  the  seasons  of  them.  I  find  nothing  more 
prejudicial  to  me  than  distrust,  both  in  refer- 
ence to  the  concerns  of  the  soul,  and  of  the 
body  also.  I  hope  to  see  you  shortly,  but 
wives  must  be  housewives,  and  sometimes 
shopwives,  as  I  know  who.  I  find  it  hard  to 
turn  into  a  closet.  Let  not  thy  farm,  nor  my 
merchandize,  be  hindrances  to  us  in  the  way 
to  heaven.  The  visiting  of  several  sick  and 
afflicted  friends  takes  up  a  gi'cat  part  of  our 
evening  time  now ;  we  must  not  expect  to  be 
ourselves  exempted  from  chastisement ;  the 
best  we  can  expect  is  to  have  them  from 
a  Father — in  measure  and  in  mercy.  There 
is  no  greater  or  better  ground  of  hope 
than  the  truth  and  faithfulness  of  God,  for 
that  cannot  fail ;  all  tiie  question  is,  Whether 
we  can  lay  claim  to  the  promises?  He  is  in 
a  sad  case  that  must  be  miserable  if  the  word 
of  God  be  true,  and  he  is  as  happy  that  must 
be  so  if  the  God  of  truth  be  true.  Who 
shall   separate    us   from    the   love   of  God? 

The  children  of  Israel,  in  their  march  towards 
25 


290  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 

Canaan,  removed  out  of  the  wilderness  of 
Paran  ;  in  the  world  we  go  out  of  one  wilder- 
ness into  another,  but  the  Canaan  is  before  us. 
I  am  now  at  Elim,  where  there  are  twelve 
wells  of  water,  and  threescore  and  ten  palm- 
trees  ;  led  into  green  pastures  and  fed  beside 
the  still  waters.  The  only  trouble  is  my  un- 
profitableness, barrenness,  leanness,  non-pro- 
ficiency. It  is  easier  to  complain  than  to 
amend.  I  know  you  rejoice  with  us  when 
we  rejoice :  that  you  may  do  so,  you  must 
know  how  it  is  with  us  : — as  yet,  health  and 
peace  are  continued;  the  nursery  prospers, 
and  the  little  ones ;  angels  watch  over  us  con- 
tinually :  the  tediousness  of  nursing  we  owe 
to  sin  ;  that  which  sweetens  it  is  the  hope  that 
some  of  our  children  may  glorify  God  in  the 
world." 

And  in  another  : — "  The  nurseries  continue 
to  prosper,  thanks  be  to  Him  who  comforteth 
us  as  one  whom  his  mother  comforteth.  I  am 
glad  to  hear  you  have  this  breathing-time. 
Our  Heavenly  Father  is,  we  see,  slow  to 
afllict,  but  swift  to  shew  mercy :  long  in  for- 
bearing, not  long  in  contending.  If  it  be  that 
he  is  preparing  to  strike,  we  should  prepare 
to  be  stricken  :  what !  shall  we  receive  good, 
and  not  evil?     Faith  and  patience  are  the 


MEMOIUS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  291 

two  great  bearing  graces  which  arc  necessary 
in  a  time  of  peril.     Base  distrust  is  a  sin  that 
doth  most  easily   beset  me,  either  of  God's 
power  or  will ;  neither  of  which  can  easily  be 
questioned  ;    for  is  any  thing    too    hard    tor 
God  1 — or  is  his  mercy  clean  gone  ?  No,  no  ! 
O  pray  for  more  faith  !    I  cannot  but  pity  your 
frequent  Sabbaths,  spent  at  home,  while  we 
have  the  manna  at  our  tent-door ;  but  remem- 
ber that  the  careful  Father,  if  there  be  no 
school  near,  will   teach  his   child  at   home, 
rather  than  he  should  not  learn ;  so  will  the 
blessed  Spirit,  the  Great  Instructor,  do  the 
work  himself,  teaching  his  people  to  profit ; 
and,  if  he  doth  it,  it  will  be  well  done  ;  for  assu- 
redly, if  he  be  not  filling  the  ordinances,  they 
are  but  empty  breasts  ;  if  he  pass  by  and  do 
not  speak,  there  is  no   meeting.     O,  that  we 
had  more  of  God  !   not  more  than   God,  but 
more  of  him.     Those   same  things  you  beg 
tor  yourself,  beg  for  me,  especially  for  faith  ; 
I  have  reason  to  believe  (as  Mr.  Baxter  said 
to  his  friends)  that  God  will  sooner  hear  your 
prayers  than  mine.     In  his   funeral   sermon, 
with   the   account  of  his  death,  his  humility 
and  self-denial  appear   admirable,   and   make 
me  think  of  that  Scripture,  '  If  the  righteous 
scarcely  be  saved,  where  shall  the  ungodly 


292  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTOX. 

and  sinner  appear  V  If  he  did  nothing  to 
boast  of,  sure  I  have  a  great  deal  to  mourn 
over." 

To  her  sister  in  the  country,  with  common 
tidings  and  business,  she  intermixeth  very 
pertinently  such  lines  as  these: — "We  need 
sometimes  to  be  in  heaviness,  we  must  look 
for  it :  herein  is  the  heart  deceitful, — that  we 
think  we  trust  in  God ;  but  when  creatures 
fail,  we  find  by  our  own  failing,  that  we  trust- 
ed in  them :  you  will  not  want  spiritual  sup- 
plies while  God  is  all-sufficient." 

"  To  render  good  for  good  is  no  more  than 
the  publicans  do ;  yet,  alas !  how  much  evil 
do  we  render  for  good  to  Ilim  that  is  good, 
and  doth  good  !" 

"  Pray,  pray  that  we  may  be  found  of  God 
in  peace,  without  spot,  and  blameless.  The 
time  is  short,  and  therefore  every  opportunity 
ought  to  be  taken  hold  of  for  improving  rela- 
tions, both  near  and  far  ofl",  that  that  great 
talent  of  society  may  not  be  buried  in  a 
napkin." 

"I  have  less  thinking-time  here  than  you 
have  in  the  country.  A  solitary  life  I  mighti- 
ly prized  formerly,  but  the  great  and  wise  God 
did  not  see  it  good  for  me :  my  temper  in- 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON  293 

clined  me  to  it,  but  now  I  can  envy  tlic  out- 
ward condition  of  none." 

"  You  would  not  envy  my  bare  enjoyment 
of  gospel  privileges  if  you  knew  how  unpro- 
fitable I  am  under  them ;  it  is  easier  to  spend 
a  deal  of  time  in  the  external  performance  of 
holy  duties  in  the  old  road,  than  to  improve  a 
little  time  seriously  and  profitably  therein. 
If  you  knew  my  sad  declinings,  especially 
my  great  remissness  in  keeping  my  heart, 
you  would  pity  me  rather  than  flatter  me. 
Pride  is  a  weed  that,  in  the  soil  of  my  heart, 
needs  no  watering." 

"  Poor  sister  Henry,  upon  the  death  of  the 
child,  is  sitting  alone  and  keeping  silence. 
The  consideration  of  her  giving  it  up  to  God 
in  baptism,  when  she  was  asked  by  my  father 
whether  she  could  freely  do  it,  hath  had  influ- 
ence upon  her  submission.  Let  us  in  a  day 
of  prosperity  be  joyful,  and  think  of  a  day 
of  adversity." 

"  Is  it  any  wonder  that  dying  creatures  die  1" 

"  In  this  vale  of  tears  we  are  full  of  com- 
pla'nts.  It  is  a  bad  sign  that  former  afflictions 
have  not  done  their  work,  in  that  He  is  fur- 
ther testifying  against  me  by  the  sickness  of 

the  children ;  when  the  staff  and  the  rod  will 
25* 


294  MEMOinS   OF   mk.s.   iiulton. 

not  do,  the  cart-wheel  and  the  threshing  in- 
strument arc  used  by  him,  who  is  *  wonderful 
in  counsel,  and  excellent  in  working.'  Isa. 
xxviii.  27,  28,  29.  I  need  not  request  your 
prayers,  mostly  for  divine  teachings, — that 
they  may  accompany  divine  chastenings. 
They  are  bitter  things  when  an  interest  in 
covenant-love  is  not  clear,  but '  He  knows  the 
way  that  I  take;  when  he  hath  tried  me  I 
shall  come  forth  as  gold :'  let  not  the  Almigh- 
ty put  me  in  the  furnace  and  leave  me  there." 
At  another  time : — "  It  is  a  mercy  to  have 
such  comfortable  homes  as  we  have ;  such 
relations — so  much  health.  O,  how  short  do 
we  come  of  the  law  of  thankfulness !  every 
one  of  God's  mercies,  even  the  least,  calls  for 
more  praise  and  thanks  than  wc  return  for 
them  in  general :  to  reflect  upon  my  own  un- 
thankfulness  may  make  me  humble.  I  desire 
your  prayers,  as  you  have  mine,  for  mercy 
and  grace.  This  is  a  vain  world  we  live  in; 
time  slips  while  I  hold  my  hand  ;  how  busy, 
how  diligent  should  we  be  ;  all  will  be  little 
enough  when  we  come  to  die !  I  heartily 
sympathize  with  you  in  the  tcdiousness  of 
your  nursery,  but  take  heed  of  complaining 
as  Rebekah  :  '  If  it  be  so  why  am  I  thus  V — 
why  is  this  child  of  promise  so  troublesome "? 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  295 

It  comforts  me  as  to  nursing  inconveniences, 
that  bringing  up  of  children,  lodging  strangers, 
and  washing  the  saints'  feet,  are  put  together 
as  good  works.  1  Tim.  v.  10,  Let  not  evil 
tidings  remove  your  fixed  heart.  Though 
when  we  looked  for  peace,  behold  trouble ; 
did  not  we  agree  for  this — if  need  be,  for  a 
season  to  be  willing  to  be  in  heaviness?  Our 
sympathizing  with  each  other  is  a  little  help, 
but,  alas !  miserable  comforters  are  we.  I 
have  sometimes  been  dejected  in  remembrance 
of  former  zeal,  forwardness,  and  fervency  in 
the  good  way,  from  which  I  fear  I  have  de- 
clined ;  upon  which,  once  calling  to  mind, 
that  Scripture  did  comfort,  (Ecclcsiastes  vii. 
10.)  '  Say  not  thou  that  the  former  days  were 
better  than  these.'  O,  that  blessed  book  of 
God  hath  all  in  it  I  want !  let  us  study  it  more. 
What  calamities  hath  sin  brought  upon  us, 
and  yet  itself  we  should  count  a  thousand 
times  worse.  It  is  easy  to  reckon  up  afflic- 
tions, but  my  sins  and  God's  mercies  are 
numberless, — one  of  which  is  the  interest  we 
have  in  the  pity  and  prayers  of  our  dear 
friends.  I  may  hope  that  all  these  things  are 
performed  for  me,  and  may  gather  hence, 
that  seeing  the  threatening  part  of  the  cove- 
nant is  feelingly  made  good  in  afflictions,  the 


206  MEMOIRS    OF    AIRS.    IIULTON. 

promising  part  (Psalm  Ixxxix.  30,  &c.)  will 
also :  the  same  truth  is  engaged  for  both.  I 
rejoice  to  hear  of  your  children's  recovery : 
are  we  like  the  one  leper,  who  returned  to 
give  thanks,  or  like  the  nine  ?  Times  of  trial 
are  times  of  gaining  experience,  for  patience 
w^orks  experience.  We  usually  pray  often 
for  the  preventing  the  evils  we  fear,  but  sel- 
dom thanking  serves:  sure  the  mercy,  the 
God  of  the  mercy,  deserves  as  many  praises 
as  prayers.  I  find  worldly  cares  rightly  com- 
pared to  thorns,  but  one  thing  is  needful. 
My  little  girl  is  learning  to  walk,  and  repre- 
sents the  weakness  of  the  heart  after  it  falls 
into  sin.  It  fears,  faints,  and  flags. .  The 
heart's  deceitfulncss  is  desperate :  when  in 
prosperity,  I  have  thought  if  I  were  in  afllic- 
tion,  I  should  be  very  humble  and  contrite 
under  God's  hand  ;  when  in  aflliction, — O,  if  I 
were  delivered  I  should  and  would  be  very 
thankful  and  obedient ;  but  it  is  neither  so  nor 
so ;  never  may  it  be  trusted  in  again." 

Upon  the  death  of  her  little  one,  at  nine 
days  old,  November,  1095,  she  thus  writes  : 
— "  It  is  easier  to  answer  you  to  your  satis- 
faction, than  to  answer  the  call  of  Divine 
Pi'ovidence,  which  sounds  louder  and  louder ; 
it  requires  more  time  than  I  now   have  to 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  297 

tell  you  my  need  of  chastisements,  and  God's 
wisdom  and  goodness  in  choosing  this  rod  to 
do  it  with.  My  fruit  towards  him  hath  been 
untimely  ;  the  breasts  of  the  promises  have  run 
waste  :  I  have  not  drawn  from  them  and  been 
satisfied.  It  brings  to  my  remembrance,  as 
my  own  sin,  so  your  affliction  ; — from  the 
same  hand,  of  the  same  kind,  with  the  same 
design  of  good  to  us.  O,  that  I  could  im- 
prove my  present  retirement  in  considering 
what  the  Lord  my  God  requires  of  me  !  We 
should  learn  this  by  all  our  disappointments, 
not  to  boast  of  to-morrow,  for  we  know  not 
what  a  day  may  bring  forth.  It  is  no  hard 
usage  that  I  should  be  diminished  whilst 
others  are  increased ;  for  do  not  all  things 
come  alike  to  all  1  Nay,  as  many  as  our 
Heavenly  Father  loveth  he  rebukes  and 
chastens,  and  though  it  be  a  mighty  hand,  and 
therefore  good  reason  why  I  should  humble 
myself  under  it,  yet  it  is  the  hand  of  a  Father, 
w-hich,  whilst  it  is  on  to  afflict,  is  under  to 
support ;  and  death  itself  shall  not  separate  us 
from  the  love  which  we  have  in  Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord,  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever.  When 
I  have  been  a  few  days  from  home,  I  begin 
to  think  myself  a  wanderer  from  my  place,  as 
a  bird  that  wanders  from  her  nest.     I  wish  I 


298  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 

do  not  settle  on  the  lees,  being  so  much  a 
stranger  to  that  sojourning  state  in  which  Ab- 
raham was,  in  the  land  of  promise.  We  are 
changing  our  servants ;  all  changes  are  trou- 
blesome ;  this  world,  therefore,  is  a  trouble- 
some world,  because  so  full  of  changes  :  suffi- 
cient to  every  day  is  the  evil  thereof." 

A  letter  which  she  wrote  to  one  of  whom 
she  heard  something  scandalous,  taking  care 
it  should  not  be  known  from  whom  it  came, 
may  be  inserted  here. 


Mr. 


"  To  ease  myself,  and,  if  it  might  be, 
to  do  you  good,  is  my  design  in  writing  this. 
I  having  joined  with  you  in  Gospel  ordi- 
nances, cannot  hear  of  your  fall  without  fear 
and  trembling.  Very  loath  I  was  to  believe 
it,  speak  of  it  I  may  not : — *  tell  it  not  in 
Gath,  publish  it  not  in  the  streets  of  Askelon ;' 
but  first  to  yourself,  whom  I  cannot  expect 
to  inform  of  that  which  you  know  not,  but 
remind  you  of  that  you  do  know, — that  the 
prevailing  love  of  God  in  the  heart  will  no 
way  consist  with  the  love  and  liking  of  any 
sin.  Whoever  they  be  that  name  the  name 
of  Christ  and  do  not  depart  from  iniquity,  I 
am  sure  their  profession  will   carry  them  but 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  299 

a  little  way,  at  farthest  but  to  heaven's  gates  : 
dissembled  piety  is  double  iniquity,  and  shall 
receive  greater  damnation.  I  do  wonder 
how,  and  with  what  face,  any  one  can  appear 
before  God,  among  his  people,  in  solemn  or- 
dinances, that  is  yet  resolved  to  go  on  in  sin. 
Consider,  you  may  deceive  us  that  join  with 
you,  but  not  Him  that  searcheth  the  heart, 
and  knows  what  is  in  man.  Is  your  spot  the 
spot  of  God's  children  1  It  is  true  David  fell 
foully,  and  I  fear  some  have  encouraged  them- 
selves in  sin  by  his  example ;  but  let  them 
consider  it  was  once — in  an  hour  of  tempta- 
tion,— and  it  cost  him  dear.  He  came  home 
by  weeping  cross,  and  I  bcliev^e  he  would  not 
for  his  kingdom  have  repeated  the  sin :  after 
which  he  had  scarce  a  good  day.  Where- 
fore is  his  sad  fall  recorded,  but  that  all  peo- 
ple may  take  heed  of  entering  into  temptation, 
and  watch  and  pray  that  they  may  not  ?  Is 
it  a  light  matter  that  religion  is  so  much  re- 
flected on?  By  your  means  the  blessed  name 
of  Jesus  Christ  suffers.  People  say,  Yea, 
they  are  all  alike ;  whereas,  God  knows,  as 
)'ou  have  opened  the  mouth  of  the  wicked, 
you  have  saddened  the  hearts  of  the  godly, 
who  mourn  in  secret  for  your  miscarriages. 
May  I  advise  you,  nay,  doth  not  the  word 


300  MEMOIRS    OF    MUS.    IIULTON. 

of  God  conimaiid  you,  to  remember  whence 
you  are  fallen,  and  to  repent ;  and  let  your 
repentance  be  public,  as  your  fall  haih  been. 
There  is  yet  hope  if  you  return,  but  none  if 
you  go  on :  there  is  a  fountain  opened  fur 
poor  sinners,  to  wash  from  sin  and  from  un- 
cleanness,  but  then  you  must  look  up  to  him 
whom  you  have  pierced,  and  mourn.  I  know 
not  what  frame  you  are  in,  but  God  knows. 
Tliis  comes  from  the  true  love  I  bear  to  your 
soul,  and  the  interest  of  religion,  which  great- 
ly suffers  ;  offences  do  come,  and  will  come, 
but  wo  to  them  by  whom  they  come  !  Can 
there  be  baser  ingratitude  than  to  make  Him 
stiffer  by  us  who  suffered  so  much  for  us  ? 
Do  you  thus  requite  the  Lord  ?  Dare  any 
come  to  the  table  of  the  Lord  for  a  cloak  to 
vile  practices  ?  O  profound  madness  !  Is 
the  holy  Jesus  a  pattern  of  sin  ?  Is  Christian- 
ity a  bare  name  ?  No,  I  will  never  believe  it ! 
What  shall  I  say  ?  Return  unto  the  Lord,  for 
you  have  fallen  by  iniquity :  take  with  you 
these  words,  and  say, '  Take  away  all  iniquity.' 
Hosea  xiv.  2.  I  shall  cease  speaking  to  you, 
but  not  praying  for  you,  who  am 

"  Your  soul's  friend." 

When  sickness  had  long  been  in  the  family 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  301 

(and  breach  upon  breach  made)  of  a  near 
neighbour  and  relation,  she  thus  writes : — 
'•  The  hand  of  God  is  going  out  against  us  : 
his  Providence  siiews  his  controversy  to  be 
great  and  long,  and  something  more  than  or- 
dinary. Judgments  begin  with  us,  the  dis- 
temper spreads,  and  where  it  may  end  we 
know  not ;  the  dregs  of  the  cup  may  y-et  be 
reserved  for  ourselves :  I  cannot  say  but  I 
have  had  fair  warning,  and  yet  I  have  not 
got  above  the  fears  of  death,  that  king  of 
terrors.  It  is  a  great  attainment :  I  can  think 
of  nothing  future  with  so  much  certainty  as 
dying ;  that  great  work,  once  to  die." 

When  her  children  had  the  small-pox  she 
writes  : — "  They  and  we  are  in  good  hands ; 
it  is  a  great  mercy  we  are  not  singled  out 
for  some  uncommon  and  extraordinary  judg- 
ment, but  visited  with  the  same  that  many  are 
tried  with.  I  hope  that  you  will  intreat  for 
us  that  this  affliction  may  not  be  lost." 

Writing  the  news  of  one  who  died  sudden- 
ly, she  added,  "  What  need  have  we  to  be 
ready  to  die  at  very  short  warning  !  Desire 
sister  Radford,  though  she  be  abroad  from  her 
family,  yet  being  there  where  she  is  useful, 
not  to  be  too  thoughtful  of  home,  as  I  myself 

have  sometimes  been,  when   I   found   after- 
26 


802  MEMOIUS    OP    MRS.    IIULTON. 

wards  that  I  was  not  so  much  missed,  as 
through  my  pride,  and  minding  my  own 
things,  I  thought  I  was." 

After  the  death  of  her  sister  Radford,  she 
thus  wrote  to  her  sister  Savage : — "  The  good 
tidings  we  have  had  of  your  safe  delivery, 
(which  was  the  next  day  after  her  sister 
Radford's  death)  and  that  God  was  to  you  a 
present  help,  and  both  root  and  branch  are 
spared,  mixcth  our  song  of  judgment  with 
mercy,  and  God  hath  set  the  one  over  against 
the  other.  We  have  been  continued  together 
many  years,  and  after  the  crown  fell  from  our 
head,*  God  let  us  alone  another  year  also, 
but  now  the  knot  is  broken.  O  for  a  sense 
of  Divine  displeasure  in  this  dispensation  and 
wisdom  to  spell  out  the  meaning  thereof! 
'  for  all  this  his  anger  is  not  turned  away,  but 
his  hand  is  stretched  out  still.'  Dear  sister 
Tylstonf  is  very  weak ;  we  want  our  Aaron, 
the  priest  of  the  family,  who  would  have 
stood  between  the  living  and  the  dead,  that 
the  plague  might  be  stayed :  God  is  angr}^, 
and  yet  I  am  not  humbled  as  I  should  be 
under  the  mighty  hand  of  God  ;  and  a  mighty 

*  An  allusion  to  her  Father's  death.    Ed. 

t  Catherine,  the  wife  of  John  Tylston,  M.  D.  A  Memoir 
of  Dr.  Tylston  may  be  seen  iin  the  Evangelical  Magazine  for 
1817,  p.  IGI.  Ed. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  303 

liand  indeed  it  is.  O,  pray  for  me  that  I 
may  be  more  so  !  I  find  there  is  no  putting 
ofl'  the  great  work  of  closing  with  Christ 
till  sickness  and  death  come,  for  that  is  a 
very  unfit  time.  And  when  it  is  done,  I  see 
it  is  not  easy  then  to  have  the  comfort  of  it." 

And  in  another : — "  This  is  a  loud  speaking 
controversy,  and  where  it  will  end  God  only 
knows  ;  but  he  is  no  less  wise  and  good  than 
ever  he  was,  however  it  is.  This  shall  after- 
wards yield  the  peaceable  fruit  of  righteous- 
ness. Pray,  pray  hold  up  the  hands  and  the 
heart,  and  you  may  do  more  than  I." 

And  a  little  after  : — "  That  you  may  know 
the  better  how  to  direct  your  prayers  and 
praises,  this  comes  to  acquaint  you  that  we 
are  not  consumed,  and  it  is  of  the  I^ord's 
mercies  it  is  so.  The  Lord  will  perfect  that 
which  concerns  us ;  and  what  is  that  but  our 
eternal  happiness  mostly  ?  if  that  be  sure 
all  is  well;  we  have  our  infirmities,  and  is 
this  our  rest?  If  concerning  this  life  only 
we  had  had  hope,  it  had  not  been  much 
worth." 

When  she  had  not  occasion  giv^en  her  by 
providences  to  write  such  lines  as  these  to 
her  friends  and  relations,  then  she  would  fill 
her  letters,  (and  abundance  of  them  are  so 


304  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 

filled)  with  ll)C  heads  of  sermons  she  had 
heard  last,  giving  a  concise  account  of  the 
substance  of  them,  and  especially  what  in 
them  did  most  afiect  her,  and  do  her  good. 
This  practice  would  never  leave  us  unfurnish- 
ed with  matter  for  pious  and  profitable  letters, 
and  might  help  very  much  to  spread  the  sav- 
our of  the  knowledge  of  Christ. 


SECTION  II. 

A  Catalogue  of  Sins,  for  Help  in  tlve 
Confession  of  Sin 

Who  can  understand  his  errors  ? 

Original  corruption ;  actual  transgressions ; 
sins  of  ignorance,  sins  against  knowledge, 
sins  in  infancy,  childhood,  youth,  and  riper 
age ;  sins  in  the  single  state ;  sins  in  the  mar- 
ried state ;  sins  in  unregeneracy ;  backslid- 
ings ;  sins  against  God,  my  neighbour,  my 
own  soul.     More  particularly, 

Ignorance  of  God,  aggravated  by  the  en- 
joyment of  the  means  of  knowledge ;  athe- 
ism, questioning  his  being  or  providence ; 
hard  thoughts  of  God,  forgctfulncss  of  him ; 
sins  against  the  first    commandment,  which 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  305 

requires  to  know,  love,  and  believe,  in  God; 
to  fear  him,  and  trust  in  him :  giving  that 
glory  to  any  other  which  is  due  to  him  alone, 
in  reference  to  God's  worship,  natural  or 
revealed ;  neglect  of  prayer  and  praise ; 
negligences  in  them,  loathness  to  be  beholden 
to  God  for  any  thing ;  ascribing  the  glory  of 
deliverances  to  somewhat  else,  not  to  God. 

Drowsiness ;  vain  thoughts  in  prayer  ;  sins 
in  reference  to  God's  word ;  not  hearing  or 
reading  it  with  attention,  reverence,  serious- 
ness ;  but  slightly  and  cursorily.  Sabbath 
sins ;  want  of  preparation  for  it ;  slothfulness 
on  that  day;  omission  of  Sabbath  duties; 
doing  my  own  works :  vain  thoughts,  weari- 
ness of  the  Sabbath.  Sacrament  sins  ;  bap- 
tismal covenant  oft  renewed,  but  forgotten, 
not  improved.  Covenants  against  particular 
sins,  to  particular  duties  broken :  especially 
as  to  the  spending  of  some  time  daily  in 
converse  with  God,  by  meditation ;  neglect 
of  that  great  duty,  both  solemn  and  occasional, 
and  of  daily  self-examination,  Backslidings 
as  to  this  from  wonted  care.  Slovenly 
performance  of  closet  work  ;  taking  the  name 
of  God  in  vain ;  spiritual  pride,  and  ostenta- 
tion in  religious  duties ;  pride  in  apparel,  in 
words,  in  thoughts;  self-conceit,  self-love; 
26  * 


306  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 

flesh-pleasing,  gratifying  inordinate  appetites, 
the  body  fed,  the  soul  starved ;  excess  in 
food,  sleep,  recreations ;  God  is  not  in  all  my 
thoughts,  lying  down  and  rising  up ;  my 
aims  every  morning  not  actually  set  right  at 
God's  glory ;  the  great  gospel-laws  of  repent- 
ance and  faith  broken  ;  time,  precious  time, 
misspent ;  time  of  youth  not  improved  ;  love 
of  ease  and  pleasure ;  disobedience  to  gov- 
ernors; despising  others  better  than  myself: 
doing  that  which  was  good  to  be  seen  of 
men;  no  relation  filled  up  with  duty:  many 
that  I  might  have  done  good  to,  dead  and 
gone  ;  others  that  I  might  have  got  good  by  ; 
the  opportunity  past.  Sermons  lost :  reproofs 
lost  and  forgotten  ;  anger  and  bitterness  ;  un- 
chaste thoughts,  or  affections  ;  abuse  of  law- 
ful things ;  loving,  and  overloving ;  doing 
any  wrong  to  any  person,  whether  knowing- 
ly or  ignorantly  ;  uncharitablcncss ;  giving 
grudgingly ;  not  devising  liberal  things ; 
lying  through  heedlessness ;  impatience  of 
reproof;  slandering  or  reporting  of  slanders  ; 
speaking  evil  of  others,  hearing  evil  spoken 
with  delight ;  discontent ;  covetousness  ;  love 
of  this  present  world  appearing  in  worldly 
thoughts, — many,  constant,  welcome.  Envy- 
ing, and  inordinate  affections ;  neglect  of  re- 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON.  307 

proving  and  watciiing  over  others ;  sinful 
bashfulness;  little  grief  for  others'  sins;  sin 
sits  light.  Love  of  Christ  little  thought  of; 
single  mercies  ill-rcquited  for;  afflictions  not 
improved  ;  brought  low,  raised  up  again,  yet 
not  amended ;  no  attainments  made  in  grace 
answerable  to  the  means  I  enjoy ;  great 
carnality ;  oppositions  to  the  Spirit's  motions 
of  late  and  heretofore ;  prevailing  dejections 
and  despondencies  of  spirit.  '  God  be  merci- 
ful to  me  a  sinner.' 


Heads  of  Mercies  for  Help  in  Thanksgiving, 

COMMON     MERCIES. 

A  BEING  and  that  rational ;  mercies  of  my 
conception,  birth,  nursing,  infancy,  rational 
faculties,  natural  understanding,  limbs  and 
senses,  preservation  in  the  cradle,  at  the 
breast,  sustenance,  clothes,  food,  not  only  for 
necessity,  but  for  delight ;  parents  continued  ; 
other  relations  provided  to  take  up  before 
they  forsook ;  mercies  at  school ;  a  capacity 
to  learn,  a  memory  able  to  retain  truths ; 
continuance  almost  twenty-one  years  in  the 
world;  Divine  patience  exercised;  scarce  a 


308  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON. 

day's  sickness  in  all  this  time,  as  I  remember  ; 
daily  bread;  varieties;  drink  hath  not  been 
tears.  Much  comfort  in  the  single  estate, 
in  the  married  estate :  suitableness  in  re- 
lations; extraordinary  deliverance  when  in 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  July  28, 
1G89. 

LESS    COMMON    MERCIES. 

CoDT.Y  education  ;  daily  instructions  ;  special 
means  for  getting  of  knowledge ;  wise  and 
seasonable  reproofs  ;  holy  ordinances  duly  ad- 
ministered ;  admitted  to  the  Lord's  Supper 
about  fifteen  years  old  ;  the  example  of  god- 
ly parents;  line  upon  line;  Sabbath;  some 
measure  of  knowledge. 

SPECIAL    MERCIES. 

Election  from  eternity  ;  free,  effectual  calling 
betimes  in  youth ;  strivings  of  the  Spirit ; 
checks  of  conscience  ;  admonitions ;  quicken- 
ings  from  the  word ;  strength  vouchsafed  to 
perform  duties ;  victory  over  temptations ; 
comfort  in  sorrow ;  preventing  mercies ; 
taught  to  pray  ;  answers  to  prayers  for  rela- 
tions in  working  good  for  them. 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  309 

FAMILY    MERCIES. 

The  house  preserved  from  fire  when  bejjun 
very  near,  June,  1G90  ;  the  family  begun  to 
r  be  built  up;  children  preserved  from  the 
perils  of  infancy.  Two  of  my  near  relations' 
children  taken  oft' quickly  by  death  ;  mine,  of 
the  same  age,  spared.  March  27,  1G93. — 
One  child  of  a  dear  friend  burnt  to  death  ; 
another  neighbour's  child  drowned  lately,  yet 
mine  preserved  ;  one  of  the  children  preserved 
from  a  dangerous  fall  down  a  pair  of  stairs 
into  the  street ;  the  recovery  of  both  of  them 
from  the  small-pox.  May,  1G95.  January, 
1695-6. — Both  recovered  from  a  malignant 
fever  when  they  had  been  given  up ;  at  the 
same  time  two  servants  brought  low  by  it,  yet 
raised  up.  Ourselves  preserved  from  the 
same  distemper  when  two  dear  relations, 
mother  and  daughter,  fell  by  it :  wonder  of 
mercy  not  to  be  forgotten. 

NATIONAL    MERCIES. 

Great  plenty  ;  no  famines ;  deliverance  from 
the  French  fleet  at  sea,  1692,  and  victory 
over  them,  the  wind  turning  for  us  ;  London 
delivered  from  the  earthquake  the  same  year 


310  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    HULTON. 

when  some  kingdoms  have  been  overturned 
and  ruined  by  them. 


SECTION  III. 

Some  account,  ojlicr  last  .sick?icss. 

She  was  at  public  ordinances  both  morning 
and  evening  on  the  Lord's  Day,  August  29  : 
she  had  been  with  her  relations,  who  were  ill 
the  day  before,  and  that  day  also.  Though 
the  distemper  had  seized  her  a  day  before, 
yet  she  kept  it  to  herself,  as  loath  to  be  taken 
oft'  by  it  from  her  work  and  duty.  But  that 
night  it  appeared  that  she  was  under  the  vio- 
lent assault  of  a  high  fever ;  the  alarm  of 
which  she  received  with  her  usual  evenness 
and  composure  of  spirit ;  and  though  she 
seemed  from  her  first  arrest  to  have  received 
the  sentence  of  death  within  herself,  yet  she 
was  not  at  all  disturbed  at  it,  but  spake  of  her 
circumstances  with  much  cheerfulness.  She 
was  exceedingly  afflicted  with  pain  in  her 
head,  which  quite  deprived  her  of  rest,  and 
sleep  departed  from  her  eyes. 

On  Monday  she  sat  up  most  of  the  day, 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  311 

spoke  of  her  spiritual  state  with  great  humility 
and  self-diffidence,  repenting  of  sin,  yet  re- 
joicing in  Christ  Jesus :  she  said  she  was 
afraid  of  saying  too  much  of  her  hope  and 
comfort,  because  the  heart  is  deceitful. 

All  that  week  she  continued  worse  (not- 
withstanding all  means  used)  but  kept  in  a 
very  patient,  submissive,  heavenly  frame. 
When  asked  how  she  did,  she  answered. 
"  Better  than  I  deserve."  Often  said,  "  I 
know  whom  I  have  trusted."  She  desired  to 
have  the  beginning  of  Isa.  xliii.  read  and 
opened  to  her, — that  Scripture  which  Mr. 
Bilney  the  martyr  supported  himself  with, — 
'  When  thou  passest  through  the  waters  I  will 
be  with  thee.'  She  desired  pardon  for  her 
omissions  in  the  duty  of  her  relations.  The 
following  sentences  she  uttered  : 

"  I  am  not  weary  of  living,  but  I  am  weary 
of  sinning ;  I  would  live  as  Christ  lives,  and 
where  Christ  lives,  and  that  I  am  sure  will  be 
heaven." 

"  There  are  many  passages  in  the  Psalms 
not  so  proper  for  us  but  at  such  a  time  as 
this  ;  as  that,  '  My  flesh  and  my  heart  fail, 
but  God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart  and  my 
portion  for  ever.' " 

"  Let  none  think  the  worse  of  religion  nor 


312*  MEMOIRS    OF    MUS.    IIULTON. 

of  our  family-worship,  for  the  afflictions  tliat 
are  in  our  famihcs,  nor  have  a  hard  tliought 
of  God ;  for  however  it  be,  yet  God  is  good." 

When  her  pain  and  extremity  were  great, 
she  said,  "  I  know  the  great  God  can  do  me 
no  wrong.  Who  would  desire  to  go  so  many 
steps  back  which  must  some  time  or  other  be 
gone  over  again,  when  now  I  have  but  one 
stile  more  and  I  shall  be  at  home?" 

"  I  have  hope  in  my  death,  for  Christ  hath 
said,  *  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also.' " 

"  I  have  distrusted  God  and  am  ashamed 
of  it,  for  God  is  truth." 

"  Now  for  a  promise." 

"  I  hope  this  is  no  surprise." 

"  You  are  miserable  comforters,  but  Jesus 
Christ  is  my  abiding  portion." 

"  I  shall  now  be  gathered  to  my  people, 
and  I  have  loved  those  that  are  godly,  both 
poor  and  rich." 

"  Blessed  be  God  for  the  Scriptures  now." 

Towards  Saturday  night  she  grew  deliri- 
ous ;  yet  even  then  it  was  evident  her  heart 
was  upon  nothing  so  much  as  God,  and  the 
things  of  her  soul ;  speaking  often  with  a 
smiling,  cheerful  countenance  of  psalms  of 
praise,  and  hymns  of  joy. 

While  she  was  under  this  disturbance  she 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    IIULTON.  313 

often  recollected  herself  with  this  word, — 
"  Here  is  notliing  but  tohu  and  hohu,  (re- 
ferring to  Genesis  i.  2.)  confusion  and  empti- 
ness^ but  it  wall  not  be  so  long." 

After  eight  days  conflict  with  her  distem- 
per, on  Monday,  September  6,  1697,  between 
the  hours  of  seven  and  eight  in  the  morning, 
she  fell  asleep  in  the  Lord. 

She  was  buried,  September  8,  in  St.  Brid- 
get's church,  attended  to  the  grave  by 
abundance  of  true  mourners,  with  whom  her 
memory  is,  and  will  be  very  precious. 

Mr.  Samuel  Lawrence  preached  her  fu- 
neral sermon  that  evening  at  her  brother's 
meeting-place,  on  Job  vii.  IG.     "  I  would  not 

hve  always." 

27 


MEMOIRS 


MRS.  ELEANOR  RADFORD, 


BY    HER    BROTHER 


THE  REV.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


315 


MEMOIRS 

OF 

MRS.   EADTOED. 

By  her  brotlver,  the  Reverend  Matthew  Henry. 

[from   a   copy    in   MRS.   SAVAGe's   HAND-WRITING.] 

Eleanor,  the  third  daughter  of  Mr.  Philip 
Henry,  was  born  at  Broad  Oak,  July  23d, 
1GG7,  being  Tuesday.  Her  father  writes  in 
his  memorandum  of  it,  "  Blessed  be  God,  who 
was  present  in  the  time  of  need." 

She  was  baptized  privately,  July  27th,  by 
Mr.  Jonathan  Edwards,  of  Jesus  College,  in 
Oxford. 

Her  natural  temper,  from  a  child,  was 
timorous. 

She  had  her  name  Eleanor  appointed  her 
by  the  last  will  of  her  grandfather,  who  died 
half  a  year  before  she  was  born. 

While  she  was  a  child,  she  had  frequent 

317 


319  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    RADFORD. 

illness,  which  the  Lord  graciously  brought 
her  through.  She  was  of  a  very  tender,  lov- 
ing, and  towardly  disposition,  and  became 
acquainted  betimes  with  the  things  of  God, 
of  which,  through  her  great  modesty  and 
self-diiridence,  she  was  not  very  forward 
to  express  herself,  but  very  sincere  and  in- 
dustrious in  her  converse  with  them. 

She  began  early  to  write  sermons,  and  the 
daily  family  expositions  of  the  Scripture,  and 
what  she  wrote  she  made  use  of;  for  while 
she  lived  in  her  daily  reading  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, in  her  closet,  she  read  along  with  them 
the  expositions  she  had  written.  She  gath- 
ered, in  writing,  what  she  thought  observable 
in  the  books  she  read,  or  in  the  papers  com- 
municated to  her,  and  kept  it  together. 

She  was  married  to  Mr.  Samuel  Radford, 
a  tradesman  in  Chester,  January  1st,  1688-9  ; 
and  as  by  the  grace  of  God,  she  was  enabled 
to  do  the  duty  of,  so  she  had  abundance  of 
comfort  in,  that  relation. 

What  account  we  can  find  among  her  pa- 
pers since  her  death,  concerning  her  spiritual 
state,  and  her  communion  with  God,  is  only 
a  constant  register  which  she  kept  of  all  her 
approaches  to  the  Lord's  Supper.     She  made 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    RADFORD.  319 

her  first  approach  in  the  17th  year  of  her  age, 
and  then  writes  thus : 

"  I  was  advised  by  my  father  to  put  tlicse 
three  questions  to  niyseU',  for  my  help  in  pre- 
paration, and  to  examine  myself  upon  them. 
AVhat  am  T  ?  What  have  I  done  ?  and  what 
do  I  want  ?  And  by  these  three  questions  I 
did  search  and  try  myself,  according  to  my 
weak  ability,  and  what  was  amiss  therein  I 
humbly  beg  of  God  to  pardon. 

Question  1st  What  am  i  ?  Am  I  in  a 
state  of  sin,  or  in  a  state  of  grace,  a  child  of 
God,  or  a  child  of  the  devil  ?  Have  I  re- 
nounced all  for  Christ  ? 

Answer.  I  hope  I  can  say,  in  the  truth 
and  uprightness  of  my  soul,  that  I  have  re- 
nounced all  my  sins,  and  taken  Jesus  Christ  to 
be  mine,  and  given  up  myself  to  him  to  be 
his. 

Question  2d.     What  have  i  done  ? 

t.^nsivcr.  God  knows,  and  my  own  con- 
science knows,  how  greatly  I  have  sinned 
against,  and  provoked,  the  pure  eyes  of  his 
glory. 

1.  The  sin  of  my  nature  testifies  against 
me,  and  I  desire  to  testify  against  it.  Lord, 
forgive  the  sinfulness  of  my  nature. 


320  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    RADFORD. 

2.  Tlie  numberless  number  of  actual  trans- 
gressions which  I  have  been  guilty  of. 

In  thought :  which  of  the  commandments 
have  I  not  broken?  A\'ho  can  understand 
my  heart  sins  ? 

In  word :  telling  untruths — some,  since  I 
have  known  to  do  better.  I  am  convinced 
that  my  vain  and  idle  words  must  come 
into  judgment,  and  my  idle  unprofitable 
letters  too. 

In  deed :  omitting  known  duties.  I  have 
not  been  so  frequent  and  constant  as  I  should 
have  been,  in  the  duty  of  secret  prayer;  in 
reading  God's  word,  and  singing  his  praises 
alone.  Committing  known  sins.  I  have  not 
carried  it  aright  towards  my  relations, 
superiors,  inferiors,  and  equals.  I  have  not 
been  diligent  to  use  my  uttermost  endeavours, 
as  1  should  have  done,  for  the  salvation  of  the 
souls  of  those  with  whom  I  have  conversed. 
I  have  always  had  too  good  an  opinion  of 
myself.  Lord,  humble  me  for  my  pride.  I 
have  enjoyed  great  means  of  knowledge,  and 
yet  am  very  ignorant  of  what  I  might,  and 
should  have  known.  I  have  often  quenched 
the  motions  of  the  Spirit  and  not  hearkened 
to  the  voice  of  my  own  conscience.  '  Lord, 
who  can  understand  his  errors  ? '     *  Cleanse 


MEMOIUS    OF    MRS.    RADFORD.  321 

thou  mc  from  secret  faults.  My  sins  have 
been  more  aggravated  than  the  sins  of  others, 
having  been  committed  against  hght  and  con- 
viction— Having  drawn  up  this  bill  of  indict- 
ment against  myself,  next  comes  in, 
Queslio7i  3d.     What  do  i  want  ? 

1.  I  want  pardon  for  these,  and  all  my  sins  ; 

2.  An  interest  in  Christ,  as  my  Redeemer 
and  Saviour 

3.  I  want  to  have  my  strong  corruptions 
weakened ; 

4.  And  my  weak  graces  strengthened. 
These,  and  many  more,  I  expect,  and  desire, 

to  have  supplied  at  the  Lord's  table. 

The  Lord  will  supply  all  my  wants  out 
of  his  fulness.  Amen.  I  was  admitted  to 
the  Lord's  table  this  February  17th,  1683—4, 
where  I  felt  unspeakable  sweetness ;  then  and 
there  the  knot  was  tied,  and  the  bargain 
made,  which  I  would  not  release  for  a  thou- 
sand worlds.  I  desire  from  the  bottom  of 
my  soul,  to  bless  God  that  ever  I  knew  the 
meaning  of  a  sacrament.  I  have  this  day 
felt  that  in  my  soul,  which  did  much  warm 
and  refresh  me,  viz.,  a  full  persuasion  of  the 
love  of  God  to  me,  and  I  desire  to  love  him 
better  than  ever.  I  have  heartily  closed  with 
him  to-day :  my  soul  hath  said — *  None  but 


322  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    RADFORD. 

Christ' — '  NoMG  but  Christ.' — The  Lord  make 
my  heart  more  and  more  sound  herein.  The 
exhortation  was  that  of  Christ's,  '  Go  and  sin 
no  more." 

On  the  next  opportunity  she  writes ;  "  I 
came  away  greatly  comforted,  and  more  sen- 
sible of  the  love  of  Christ  to  me,  and  I  hope 
I  shall  have  cause  to  bless  God  for  this  day, 
as  long  as  I  have  a  day  to  live.  The  exhor- 
tation was  Psalm  Ivi.  13.  '  Thou  hast  de- 
livered my  soul  from  death,  wilt  thou  not  de- 
liver my  feet  from  falling?'  He  that  hath 
done  the  greater  will  do  the  lesser." 

On  another,  "  This  was  a  price  put  into 
my  hand  to  get  wisdom.  Blessed  be  God. 
The  duty  pressed  was — to  continue  with 
Christ  in  his  temptation :  the  Lord  help  me 
so  to  do." 

"  Another  precious  day  of  grace.  I  was  a 
guest  at  the  blessed  table,  and  must  say,  as 
Mephiboshcth — '  Who  am  I  that  thou  should- 
est  look  upon  such  a  dead  dog  as  I  am  ?" 

"  Another  sweet  opportunity,  wherein  I 
have,  as  well  as  poor  I  could,  given  myself 
to  God  wholly,  only,  and  for  ever.     Amen." 

On  another — "  I  have  to-day,  by  the  un- 
speakable goodness  of  my  God  to  me,  come 
away  from  his  table  with  abundant  consola- 


MEMOIRS    OF     MRS.    RADFORD.  323 

tions  and  satisfaction,  because  I  hope  I  am  in 
Christ  Jesus.  I  am  grieved  that  I  walk  no 
more  closely  with  God.  O  tiiat  the  sweet- 
ness I  have  found  to-day  may  engage  me  to 
more  watchfulness.  I  have  this  day,  with  an 
eye  of  faith,  seen  the  great  love  of  Christ  to 
me  ;  I  tasted  it,  and  was  refreshed.  Blessed 
be  God,  I  had  a  comfortable  day  of  it ;  I  en- 
deavoured to  set  faith  on  work,  and  came 
away  comforted." 

At  another  time:  "  A  sweet  opportunity; 
the  duty  pressed  was,  '  Arm  yourselves,  like- 
wise, with  the  same  mind.' " 

At  another :  "  A  wonder  of  mercy,  that  I, 
who  am  not  worthy  of  a  crumb  from  the 
table,  should  be  admitted  to  sit  at  it,  and  feast, 
not  only  with,  but  upon,  the  Lord.  How  is 
it'?  I  have  renewed  my  covenant  afresh  with 
him,  and  deliberately  chosen  him  for  my 
treasure ;  and  now,  I  bless  God,  I  count  the 
world,  and  all  things  on  this  side  him,  but 
trash." 

"  Another  precious  opportunity.  The  duty 
pressed  was,  '  to  work  out  my  own  salvation 
with  fear  and  trembling.'  The  Lord  help  me 
in  it,  and  work  in  me  both  to  will  and  to 
do." 


324  MEMOIRS    OF     MRS.    RADFORD. 

At  another:  "From  Phil.  iv.  1,  '  So  stand 
fast  in  the  Lord,  my  dearly  beloved.' " 

At  another :  "  The  exhortation  was  from 
Ps.  cxvi.  16,  *  Truly,  I  am  thy  servant.' " 

At  another :  "  From  1  Samuel  xii.  24, 
'  Only  fear  the  Lord.'  " 

At  another:  "From  Romans  xii.  1, 'Pre- 
sent your  bodies  a  living  sacrifice.'  " 

At  another :  "  Tiiis  was  an  avouching  day : 
I  did  afresh  take  God  to  be  mine.  The 
Scripture  closed  with  was  Deut.  xxvi.  17, 
♦  Thou  hast  avouched  the  Lord.' " 

At  another,  "Job  x.  15.  'If  I  be  wicked, 
wo  to  me.'  Wo,  and  a  thousand  woes  to  me, 
if  I  be  wicked.  I  that  have  known  more, 
and  professed  more,  and  been  more  convinc- 
ed than  others.  I  that  have  had  so  many 
mercies  from  God,  and  so  oft  renewed  my 
covenants  with  him.  If  I  be  wicked,  and 
must  go  to  hell  at  last  (as  all  that  are  wicked 
must,)  it  will  be  hell  indeed  to  me." 

At  another  time :  "  I  was  minded  of  that 
great  duty,  '  in  all  my  ways  to  acknowledge 
God,'  from  Prov.  iii.  G." 

"  I  was  exhorted  from  Hebrews  xii.  1.  '  to 
lay  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin  that  doth 
most  easily  beset  me.' 

From  1  John  i.  12,  '  Not  to  sin.' 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    RADFORD.  325 

From  Psalm  xxxi.  23,  '  To  love  the  Lord.' 

From  Romans  viii.  1, 'To  walk  after  the 
Spirit.' 

From  1  Cor.  xv.  58,  '  To  abound  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord.' 

From  2  Cor.  v.  14,  15,  '  To  live  to  Christ.' 

From  1  Thess.  iv.  l,*To  walk  so  as  to 
please  God.' 

From  Col.  iii.  1,2,  3,  *  To  seek  the  things 
above.' 

From  2  Peter  iii.  18, '  To  grow  in  grace.' 

From  Eph.  V.  15,  16, 'To  walk  circum- 
spectly.'" 

«  From  Eph.  iv.  22,  23,  '  To  put  off  the 
old  man,  and  to  put  on  the  new  man.'  I  hope 
I  have  done  that  to-day,  which  I  shall  have 
cause  to  bless  God  for,  to  eternity.'" 

"  From  1  Cor.  x.  12,  '  Let  him  that  think- 
eth  he  standeth  take  heed  lest  he  fall.'" 

"  A  sealing  day ;  the  Lord  did  accept,  and 
pardon.  I  did  endeavour  to  give  myself  to 
Christ  deliberately,  sincerely,  freely,  and,  it 
shall  be,  for  ever.  The  Lord  keep  it  always 
in  the  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  my 
heart,  and  establish  my  way  before  him." 

At  another :  "  The  exhortation  was,  from 
1  Peter  i.  13,  *  Gird  up  the  loins  of  your 
mind.'  It  was  a  sweet  opportunity.  What  I 
28 


326  MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    RADFORD. 

have  in  hand  is  nothing  to  what  I  have  in  hope. 

*  Not  unto  me,  O  Lord,  but  to  thy  name  be 
the  praise'  I  had  the  comfort;  God  shall 
have  the  glory."  At  another :  "  1  Peter  i. 
22,  '  Love  one  another.'  I  was  dead  and 
cold  at  the  ordinance,  I  would  endeavour  to 
make  up  what  was  amiss  by  after  diligence. 
The  Lord  set  in  with  me." 

"  2  Samuel  xxiii.  5. — '  Yet  hath  he  made 
with  me  an  everlasting  covenant.'  1  did 
afresh  take  God  the  Father  to  be  my  chiefest 
good  and  highest  end ;  God  the  Son  to  be  my 
Prince  and  Saviour;  God  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
be  my  sanctifier,  teacher,  guide,  and  comfor- 
ter ;  God's  word  to  be  my  rule  in  all  my  ac- 
tions, and  his  people  to  be  my  people  in  all 
conditions.  The  exhortation  was,  to  join  in 
the  angels'  song,  Luke  ii.  14,  *  Glory  to  God 
in  the  highest.'" 

Thus  far  before  she  was  married. 

At  another  time — "  The  exhortation  was, 
Ps.  Ixxxv.  8.  'Not  to  return  again  to  folly.' 
All  sin  is  folly,  but  sin,  after  God  hath  spoken 
peace,  is  folly  with  a  witness." 

At  another   time :  "  From   Hosea  xiv.   8, 

*  To  have  no  more  to  do  with  idols.' — From 
Psalm  xxiii.  6,  •  To  dwell  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord.'— From   Col.   ii.   6,   7,   'To   walk   in 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.    RADFORD.  327 

Christ  with  thanksgiving.' — From  Isa.  ii.  5,  6, 
•  Walk  in  the  hght  of  the  Lord;'  that  is,  1st. 
to  walk  closely  in  my  family,  in  my  shop. — 
2d.  To  walk  comfortably ;  for  God  would 
have  his  people  a  comforted  people.  From 
John  viii.  10,  '  To  go  and  sin  no  more.'  " 

At  another :  "  I  was  very  dull  and  drowsy 
some  part  of  the  time,  but  came  away  rejoic- 
ing that  I  had  what  I  came  for.  The  Lord 
help  me  to  be  the  more  busy  after.  The 
Scripture  closed  with,  was  Romans  vi.  12." 

At  another:  "The  exhortation  was  from  I 
Peter  ii.  9.  '  To  shew  forth  the  praises  of 
him  who  hath  called  us.'  " 

"From  Joshua  xxiv.  21,22,  23, 'Ye  are 
witnesses.'" 

"  From  Deut.  xxix.  9,  '  Keep  the  words  of 
this  covenant.'  " 

"  From  Gen.  xxix.  1,  '  Then  Jacob  went  on 
his  way.'  Margin,  then  Jacob  lift  up  his 
feet;  when  he  had  that  view  of  God,  chap, 
xxviii.  12,  and  made  that  vow  to  God,  chap 
xxviii.  20,  then  he  lift  up  his  feet.' 

"From  Jer.  xiii.  11.  'To  be  unto  him  for 
a  name  and  for  a  praise,  and,  therefore,  to 
abstain  from  those  things  which  make  a  dis- 
honour and  disgrace  to  God,  and  to  abound 
in  those  thinj^s  which  are  for  his  honour." 


32S 


MEMOIRS    OF    MRS.     RADFORD. 


"From  Eccl.  viii.  11,  'Keep  the  king's 
commandment,  because  of  the  oath  of  God.'  " 

"  From  2  Timothy  ii.  3,  '  To  endure  hard- 
ness.' " 

"  From  2  Chron.  xv.  14,  15,  '  To  seek  with 
my  whole  heart.'  The  Lord  grant  that  the 
impressions  of  this  ordinance  may  not  wear 
ofi:' " 

"  From  1  Cor.  v.  11,  *  To  purge  out  the  old 
leaven.' " 

"  From  Daniel  xii.  13,  '  Go  thy  way  till  the 
end  be,  for  thou  shalt  rest.'  " 

The  last  she  received  was  July  4th,  1G97. 
"  The  exhortation  was  from  the  practice  of 
the  eunuch,  Acts  viii.  39,  *  He  went  on  his 
way  rejoicing.'" 

These  are  some  of  the  Memorandums  she 
kept  of  these  opportunities. 


In  her  letters  to  her  sisters  there  are  many 
very  savoury,  pious  expressions,  that  speak 
what  her  heart  was  full  of. 

•*  This  is  the  world  of  troubles  and  disap- 
pointments. I  never  saw  so  much  of  it  as 
now.  I  desire  your  prayers  for  me,  that  I 
may  be  weaned  from  it  more  and  more." 


MEMOIRS    OF    MR.5.    IIADFORD.  329 

"  I  desire  to  be  content  in  the  place  where 
God  liath  set  me.  O  that  I  had  wisdom  to 
do  the  duly  of  it.  I  see  we  must  not  liave 
every  thing  that  we  would  have  in  this 
world." 

She  was  seized  with  a  fever,  as  it  proved, 
though  little  suspected  of  several  days,  Au- 
gust 1st,  1G97 

In  the  beginning  of  her  illness  she  often 
expressed  an  entire  submission  to  the  will 
of  God,  however  he  should  please  to  dispose 
of  her. 

It  was  the  ninth  or  tenth  day  of  her  illness 
before  it  appeared  perilous,  and  then  it  grew 
violent,  and  seized  her  head. 

She  breathed  out  her  soul  info  the  embraces 
of  the  Lord  Jesus,  August  13th,  being  Friday, 
between  four  and  five  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. 

She  was  buried  in  St.  Michael's  Church, 
Chester,  August  IGth,  being  Monday. 

Mr.  James  Owen  preached  her  funeral  ser- 
mon that  evening,  at  her  brother's  meeting- 
place,  on  Rev.  ii.  7.  '  To  him  that  overcom- 
eth  will  I  fifive  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life.' 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I. 


Of  the  excellent  wife  of  Philip  Henry,  little,  com- 
paratively,  is  known.  What  she  was  may,  how. 
ever,  be  gathered,  though  nothing  is  particularly 
said  of  her,  from  her  son's  (Matthew  Henry)  ser- 
mon on  her  death.  She  died  May  25th,  1707, 
in  the  79th  year  of  her  age.  The  following  ex- 
tracts  from  Mrs.  Savage's  diary  are  interesting. 
— <  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed.' 

«  1707.  Monday  morning,  28th  of  April.  I 
went  to  Broad  Oak  to  visit  my  dear  aged  mother ; 
very  sensible  of  the  honour  and  duty  I  owe  her 
while  she  lives,  though  not  in  a  capacity  to  pay 
it  as  I  would.  I  found  her  weak  in  body,  yet 
strong  in  the  graces  of  the  Spirit — faith,  love, 
and  thankfulness — contempt  of  the  world,  and 
longing  for  heaven.  O  that  I  may  tread  in  her 
steps.  She  said  to  me — '  I  have  been  a  great 
while  here,  to  what  end  should  I  desire  to  live 
longer?' 

"  Friday,  May  2.  I  went  to  Broad  Oak.  Found 
my  dear  mother  very  weak.     Some  days  in  bed 

331 


332  APPENDIX.       NO.    I. 

all  (Jay.  But,  blessed  be  God,  her  faith  and  hope 
not  shaken.  It  is  a  great  confirmation  to  me  of 
the  reality  of  invisible  things,  to  see  a  holy  life 
end  so  well.  '  The  end  of  that  man  (or  woman) 
is  peace.' 

Sabbath.  May  4.  I  spent  at  dear  Broad  Oak, 
tlie  place  of  niy  solemnities,  where  I  have  had 
many  a  comfortable  Sabbath.  Blessed  be  God 
for  the  opportunity  of  this,  though  not  as  former- 
ly. Weeping  should  not  hinder  sowing.  We 
had  Mr.  Doughty  to  be  our  good  helper,  from 
Gal.  vi.  9. — '  Let  us  not  be  weary  in  well  doing  : 
for  in  due  season  we  shall  reap  if  we  faint  not.' 
A  very  good  caution.  Alas  !  I  am  apt  to  faint, 
to  flag,  and  tire.  But  I  have  a  great  deal  of  rea- 
son to  hold  on  and  hold  out,  forasmuch  as  in  due 
season — in  God's  due  time — I  shall  reap.  When 
I  told  dear  mother  the  subject,  she  replied — 'nor 
in  evil  suffering.'  Let  this  be  a  quickening  con- 
sideration to  me  when  I  faint  and  tire — a  blessed, 
glorious  harvest  is  before  me,  I  trust,  which  will 
make  amends  for  all. 

Wednesday,  7th,  I  went  again.  Dear  brother 
came  from  Chester.  We  had  a  very  affectionate 
prayer  at  meeting  at  our  dear  mother's  bed-side. 
He  had  this  expression  in  pleading  with  God  for 
mercy  for  her — '  Ilcr  children  do  rise  up  and  call 
her  blessed ;  Lord,  do  thou  command  the  bless- 
ing.'    He  preached  the  lecture  there.     We  had  a 


APPENDIX.       NO.    I.  333 

comfortable  opportunity  from  1  Cor,  xv.  19.  'If 
in  this  life  only  we  have  hope  in  Christ,  we  are 
of  all  men  most  miserable.'  A  Christian's  hope 
in  Christ  looks  above,  and  beyond  this  life,  or  else 
their  case  were  very  sad.  He  shewed  that  true 
Christians  have  hope  in  Christ  for  righteousness, 
strength,  everlasting  happiness.  They  have  hope 
in  Christ  in  this  life,  in  reference  to  daily  sins, 
daily  services,  daily  sorrows.  But  not  in  this  life 
only — their  comfort  looks  above  and  beyond  this 
life — '  We  hope  in  Christ' — That  he  will  be  with 
us  in  our  dying  agonies  :  he  is  not  like  the  master 
of  that  poor  Amalekite,  1  Sam.  xxx.  13.  who  left 
him  '  because  he  fell  sick' — That  he  will  receive 
our  precious  souls  into  glory — That  he  will  bring 
us  off  in  the  judgment — That  he  will  make  us 
eternally  happy  in  the  vision  and  fruition  of 
God. 

May  11th.  I  heard  yesterday  that  my  dear 
mother  continues  as  she  was.  Lord,  support. 
Put  under  thy  everlasting  arm. 

Friday.  I  went  to  see  my  dear  mother  :  found 
her  still  declining,  yet  very  sensible.  That  after- 
noon I  was  much  revived  by  brother  Henry  com- 
ing and  praying  with  her,  and  the  family — all 
coming  to  her  bed-side,  as  she  desired.  The 
chapter  in  course  to  read  was  1  John  v.  5. 
When  he  came  to  the  11th  verse — "  And  this  is 
the  record  that    God  hath   given  to   us    eternal 


33i  APPENDIX.       NO.     I. 

life."  she  attended  heedfuUy,  and  said — '  And 
that's  enough,' — Afterwards  she  joined  in  singing 
some  verses  of  the  23d  Psalm.  Afterwards  he 
prayed — short,  but  full  of  pious  aficctions — and 
she  solemnly  blessed  us  all.  And  it  was  the  last 
time. 

The  Sabbath,  May  18th,  I  spent  at  Broad  Oak. 
— Dear  mother  still  declining.  Finding  her 
memory  fail  she  said — '  This  day  I  am  afraid  of 
speaking  much,  lest  I  should  not  speak  well.' — 
She  often  spoke  with  much  cheerfulness  of  the 
happiness  she  was  almost  arrived  at.  When 
some  were  about  to  pray  by  her  she  requested 
them  '  not  to  desire  her  life,  for  she  was  full  of 
days.  I  have,'  said  she,  '  as  many  of  the  com- 
forts of  this  life  as  I  can  desire,  and  now  want 
nothing  but  the  comforts  of  a  better.' 

Wednesday.  Mr.  Pell,  their  late  minister,  died 
of  a  consumption,  at  Whixall,  to  whom  she  had 
pleasantly  sent  this  message  some  weeks  before — 
'  Desire  Mr.  Pell  not  to  be  angry  if  I  get  to 
heaven  before  him.' — But  it  proved  that  she 
(though  he  was  but  five-and-twenty,  she  seventy- 
eight)  stayed  a  few  days  longer. — Towards  the 
end  of  the  week  we  saw  her  decline  apace  :  her 
memory  often  failing,  she  did  not  speak  with  that 
coherence  she  always  used  to  do.  As  one  said 
on  a  like  occasion,  it  could  not  but  grieve  me  to 
hear  one  that  was  not  wont  to  speak  an  incoherent 


APPENDIX.       NO.     I.  335 

word,  lot  drop  some  now  when  so  near  eternity. 
But  God's  '  way  is  in  the  sea.'  It  is  a  quickening 
to  us  to  be  busy,  while  senses  and  understanding, 
and  memory  are  continued,  because  we  know  not 
how  they  may  fail  us. 

On  Saturday,  sometimes,  she  would  be  cheerful. 
— When  asked  how  she  did,  she  would  say — 
'  Pretty  well' — but  more  often,  '  Pray  for  a  poor, 
dying,  senseless  creature.'  About  a  quarter  after 
twelve  that  night,  without  so  much  as  a  groan,  she 
gradually  expired — began  her  everlasting  Sabbath. 
'  At  midnight  the  cry  was  made — the  bridegroom 
came.' 

'  A  poor  beheaded  family,'  (said  brother  Henry 
in  one  prayer)  '  but  thou,  O  Lord,  art  the  ever- 
living  head  of  all  the  families  of  the  earth.' 
Lord,  thou  art  righteous.  I  will  lay  my  hand  on 
my  mouth.  She  hath  finished  well — come  to  her 
grave  in  a  full  age — like  a  shock  of  corn  in  its 
season.  Lord,  make  me  to  know  my  end.  I 
find  this  stroke,  coming  so  gradually,  much  easier 
borne  by  me,  than  that  of  dear  father  eleven  years 
ago.  O  what  a  glorious  Sabbath  do  they  keep 
together  in  heaven,  who  kept  so  many  solemn, 
comfortable  ones  on  earth  !  What  glorious  sights 
are  opened  to  the  eye  of  the  soul  of  a  believer, 
while  we  are  closing  the  eyes  of  the  body  with 
floods  of  tears  !  I  heartily  bless  my  God  for  all 
the  good  I  have  got,  though  far  short  of  what 


336  APPENDIX.       NO.    I. 

I  might,  from  her  excellent  example,  especially 
humility,  contentedness,  contempt  of  the  world, 
zeal,  and  life  in  holy  duties. 

Wednesday,  May  28th,  we  accompanied  the 
dear  remains  to  the  ship  of  the  grave.  And  fur- 
ther we  cannot  go.  Dr.  Benion  preached  the 
sermon  at  Broad  Oak,  at  ten  o'clock,  from  Heb. 
vi.  12.  'That  ye  be  not  slothful,  but  followers 
of  them  who  through  faith  and  patience  inherit 
the  promises.'  A  very  suitable  subject,  wherein 
he  gave  her  her  due  character.  Among  other 
things  he  said  (than  which  nothing  could  be  more 
true)  '  She  was  always  well  satisfied  with  what- 
ever God  and  her  friends  did  for  her.'  She  hath 
run  out  a  comfortable  race — having,  from  her 
youth,  chosen  the  narrow  way,  not  suffering  the 
concerns  of  earth  to  swallow  up  the  main  matter  ; 
yet  she  hath  been  continued  head  of  a  large  fami- 
ly for  sixty  years.  Lord,  grant  some  one  may 
stand  up  to  do  something  towards  filling  up  the 
gap.  She  hath  left  only  three  children,  and 
twenty-two  grand-children.  O  that  the  prayers 
that  are  upon  the  file  for  them  may  descend  in 
showers  of  blessings  :     Amen.     Amen. 

I  cannot  here  omit  Mr.  Baxter's  epitaph  which 
he  placed  on  his  dear  wife  in  Christ  Church,  Lon- 
don  : — 

Thus  must  thy  flesh  to  silent  dust  descend 
Thy  rairtli  and  worldly  pleaeurcs  thus  will  end ; 


APPENDIX.       NO.    I.  337 

Then  happy,  holy  souls:  but,  wo  to  those 
Who  heaven  forgot,  and  earthly  pleasures  chose. 
Hear  now  this  preaching  grave,  without  delay ; 
Believe,  repent,  and  work  while  it  is  day. 

Upon  this  I  was  thinking  while  we  stood  by 
dear  mother's  grave,  in  Whitchurch  church. 

June  3d.  We  went  once  more  to  dear  Broad 
Oak.     A  headless  family. 

4lh.  Wednesday.  Brother  preached  a  funeral 
sermon  for  dear  mother,  on  Prov.  xxxi.  28. 
« Her  children  arise  up  and  call  her  blessed.' 
Whence  he  drew  an  exhortation  to  parents,  so  to 
carry  it  that  their  children  might  have  reason  to 
call  them  blessed  for  their  kindness,  wisdom, 
charity,  prudence,  and,  especially,  piety.  To 
children,  to  own  with  thankfulness  the  great  mer- 
cy of  having  such  parents.  Bless  them,  that  is, 
honour  and  reverence  them  while  we  have  them  ; 
and  bless  God  for  them,  when  gone,  that  ever 
we  had  them — rthat  we  had  them  so  long. 

And,  surely,  if  ever  any  children  in  the  world 
had  reason  to  rise  up  and  call  a  parent  blessed, 
we  have. — So  wise,  so  kind,  so  tender,  charitable, 
prudent,  provident,  and  above  all,  so  pious.  Sure 
we  can  never  say  enough  in  her  praises  ;  all  that 
knew  her,  will  with  us  bear  record. 

What  we  have  to  do  is  to  rise  up,  and  study 
daily  in  every  thing  to  follow  her  example ;  that 
we  be  not  slothful — for  we  all  know  she  was  not. 
29 


339  APPENDIX.       NO.    II. 

These  things  do,  for  the  present,  make  a  good 
impression  on  me.  God  grant  it  do  not  wear  ofl", 
but  that  they  may  sink  into  my  heart,  that  I  may 
now  be  gathering,  and  lay  up  for  myself  in  store 
a  good  foundation — forasmuch  as  I  see  the  end 
of  those  who  are  holy  and  useful." 


No.  II. 

A  SERMON, 

Preached  at  a  Wedding,  November  6  1684. 

BY    THE    REV.    MATTHEW   HENRY. 

[From  the  original  Manuscript*] 

Psalms  ci.  2. — O  when  wilt  thou  come  unto  me  ? 

These  words  may  be  looked  upon  as  spoken  by  the 
sweet  singer  of  Israel;  either. 

1.  In  his  PERSONAL  capacity  as  he  was  a 
saint.  And  then  they  shew  what  is  the  great 
thing  that  a  gracious  heart  pants  and  breathes 
after,  namely,  the  presence  of  God,  which,  it 
should  seem,  David  at  this  time  wanted,  or,  at 
least,  wanted  the  comfort  of  Note — 1.  God 
may  sometimes,  in  appearance  at  least,  withdraw 

*  Obligingly  communicated  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Stedmam, 
M.  A.  Vicar  of  St.  Chad,  Shrewsbury. 


APPENDIX.      NO.    ir.  839 

himself  from  his  people,  and  seem  to  bo  at  a  dis- 
tance from  them.  Christ  himself  upon  the  cross 
experienced  this  truth,  when  he  groaned  out  his 
Lama  Sabacthani — why  hast  thou  forsaken  me? 
If  this  be  done  to  the  green  tree,  what  shall  be 
done  to  the  dry  ?  Note — 2.  When  God  is 
withdrawn,  the  child  of  God  thinks  the  time 
long  till  he  comes  again.  David  does  not  at  all 
question  God's  coming  to  him — No,  faith  says, 
though  he  be  gone,  he  will  come  again ;  but  only 
desires  that  it  may  be  hastened.  Compare  Psalm 
xiii.  and  1st  verse. 

'  When  wilt  thou  come?'  As  the  saints  desire 
to  come  to  God  hereafter,  so  they  desire  to  have 
God  come  to  them  here.  The  Spirit  and  the 
bride,  that  is,  the  spirit  in  the  bride,  saith,  Come. 
Come.  '  Even  so  come,  come  quickly  ;  make 
haste,  my  beloved,'  is  the  natural  language  of 
grace.  And  is  this  the  language  of  our  hearts? 
A  wicked  man  cannot  truly  desire  God  to  come 
to  him,  knowing  that  if  God  comes  to  him,  he 
comes  in  anger ;  and,  therefore,  he  wails  when 
he  sees  him  come — Rev.  i.  7.  But  to  a  child  of 
God,  nothing  is  more  welcome,  his  heart  is 
ready  for  him,  the  everlasting  doors  are  lifled  up 
for  the  King  of  Glory  to  come  in ;  and  he  is  glad 
of  such  a  guest.     Or, 

2.  In  his  PUBLIC  capacity,  as  a  magistrate,  for 
this  Psalm  is   penned   to  a   royal   tune,  ver.  8. 


340 


APIENDIX. 


Some  think  it  was  penned  before  his  coming  to 
the  crown,*  and  then  '  when  wilt  thou  come  ?'  is, 
when  wilt  thou  make  good  the  promise  which  thou 
hast  given  me  of  the  kingdom  ?  And  truly  he  had 
reason  to  say,  when  wilt  thou  come  ?  for  it  was 
a  long  time,  and  a  sad  time  with  David  between 
his  anointing  to,  and  his  possession  of,  the  king- 
dom. Some  read  it,  I  will  behave  myself  wisely 
until  thou  come. — q.  d.  I  know  thou  wilt  come; 
though  thou  art  slow,  yet  thou  art  sure ;  and  I 
will  endeavour  to  carry  myself  aright  till  thou 
dost  come.  We  find  that  he  did  so. — 1  Sam. 
xviii.  14. — 'David  behaved  himself  wisely  in  all 
his  ways.'  He  did  his  duty  and  left  the  event 
to  God.  Others  think  it  was  penned  after  his 
coming  to  the  crown,  and  then  he  earnestly  de- 
sires God  to  come  to  him. 

1st.  To  establish  his  kingdom  to  him,  and 
to  subdue  his  enemies  before  him,  which  he 
could  never  have  done,  as  he  did,  without  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts — It  was  he  that 
went  upon  the  top  of  the  mulberry-trees,  2  Sam. 
V.  24. 

2d.  To  assist  him  in  the  performance  of  the 
duty  of  his  kingdom. |  I  will  behave  myself 
wisely,  saith  ho,  and,  O  that  infinite  wisdom 
would  come  and  help  me  so  to  behave  myself. 
Observe,  how  abruptly  this  comes  in  here  in  the 
*  Calvin.  t  Ainsworth. 


APPENDIX.       NO.    11.  341 

midst  of  his  resolutions,  like  that  of  Jacob — Gen. 
xlix.  18. — In  the  midst  of  his  speaking  his  pur- 
poses to  others,  he  turns  to  God  to  speak  his  re- 
quest to  him  for  aid  and  assistance,  as  knowing 
that  without  that  all  his  purposes  would  be  to  no 
purpose, 

3d.  To  give  him  the  comfort  of  all  his  enjoy- 
ments. For  a  kingdom,  a  world  is  nothing  to  a 
gracious  soul  without  God.     Or, 

4th.  David  might  speak  these  words  in  his 
PRIVATE  capacity  as  a  master  of  a  family ;  for  it 
follows — '  I  will  walk  within  my  house.'  God 
having  called  him  to  a  house  of  his  own,  he 
humbly  desires  God  to  come  and  dwell  with  him 
in  it.     '  Oh,  when  wilt  thou  come  unto  me?' 

Doctrine. — That  the  presence  of  God,  in  a 
house  or  family,  is  a  very  desirable  thing.  Or 
thus — 'Tis  a  very  desirable  thing  when  a  man 
hath  a  house  of  his  own,  to  have  God  come  to 
him,  and  dwell  with  him  in  it. 

I  shall  shew, 

I.  What  the  presence  of  God  is. 

II.  Prove  it  very  desirable.     And. 

III.  Shew  what  we  must   do,  that   we 

MAY  have  it. 

I.  I  shall  shew  what  the  presence  of 
God  is. 

1st.  There  is  his  common  presence;  by  which 
he  is  every  where ;  excluded  out  of  no  place — 
29* 


342 


APPENDIX. 


included  in  no  place : — of  this  David  speaks  in 
Psalm  cxxxix.  7,  &c.  And  thus  he  is  in  the 
most  wicked  house  in  the  country,  and  sees  and 
registers,  and  will  one  day  severely  reckon  for, 
all  the  wickedness  that  is  in  families.     But, 

2d.  There  is  his  special  presence,  and  that  is 
meant  here ;  the  presence  of  his  love,  and  grace, 
and  blessing — his  covenant  presence.  Such  a 
presence  as  is  promised  to  be  '  where  two  or 
three  are  gathered  together  in  his  name.'  Matt, 
xviii.  20.  Such  a  presence  as  was  in  the  house 
of  Obed-Edom,  when  the  ark  was  there.-^Such  a 
presence  as  went  down  with  Jacob  into  Egypt. 
Gen.  xlvi.  4.  Such  a  presence  as  was  with 
Joshua  in  his  wars,  (Josh.  i.  9,) ;  and  with  Caleb 
in  his,  (Josh.  xiv.  12.);  and  with  Gideon  in  his, 
(Judges  vi.  12.);  and  with  David  in  his,  according 
to  his  desire  (1  Sam.  xviii.  14.)  '  David  behaved 
himself  wisely  according  to  this  purpose  of  his,' 
and  the  Lord  was  with  him  according  to  this 
prayer  of  his. 

II.  To  PROVE  IT  DESIRABLE  wc  shall  considcr, 
what  kind  of  presence  the  presence  of  God  is ; 
and  then,  you  shall  judge  if  it  be  not  desirable. 

1.  It  is  a  guiding  presence;  where  God  is,  he 
is  as  a  director,  Psalm  Ixxiii.  23.  '  I  am  contin- 
ually with  thee ;'  what  then  ?  Why,  ver  24 — 
'  Thou   shalt  guide  me  with   thy  counsel.'     We 


APPENDIX.      NO.    ir.  343 

have  often  need  of  guidance  when  we  know  not 
what  to  do,  as  the  phrase  is,  2  Chron.  xx.  12. 

When  we  know  not  what  to  do  in  point  of  duty 
— what  we  must  do?  Then,  God  directs  by  his 
word  and  Spirit,  and  his  deputy  conscience; 
making  the  way  of  duty  plain  ;  resolving  our 
doubts,  satisfying  our  scruples,  shewing  us  the 
way  ;  and,  which  is  more,  leading  us  in  it.  And 
is  not  this  desirable  ? 

When  we  know  not  what  to  do  in  point  of 
event — what  we  shall  do.  Then,  God  directs  by 
his  providence,  opening  a  door  where  we  saw 
none ;  extricating  us  out  of  difficulties  when  we 
knew  not  how  to  do  it  for  ourselves.  Where  God 
is,  he  is  a  pillar  of  fire  and  cloud,  in  every  wilder- 
ness—eyes to  the  blind:  and  have  not  families 
need  of  this  guidance  in  family  affairs  ?  Job  v. 
24 — '  and  shalt  not  err' — so  some. 

2.  It  is  a  guarding  presence.  Where  God 
dwells  in  the  house,  he  is  a  wall  of  fire  about  the 
house — Zech.  ii.  5.  '  'Tis  the  Lord  that  keeps  the 
city' — Psalm  cxxvii,  1,  2.  The  inhabitants  of 
that  house  where  God  dwells  '  abide  under  the 
shadow  of  the  Almighty' — Psalm  xci.  1,  &c. 
And  is  not  that  a  precious  privilege?  When 
God  is  in  the  house,  the  glorious  angels  pitch 
their  tents  round  about  it — Psalm  xxxiv.  7. ;  and 
these  are  a  better  guard  than  ever  a  prince  or 
potentate  in  the  world  hath.     'Behold,  he  that 


344 


APPEADIX. 


kcepeth  Israel  shall  neither  slumber  nor  sleep. 
The  Lord  is  thy  keeper:  the  Lord  is  thy  shade 
upon  thy  right  hand.  The  sun  shall  notsmitethce 
by  day,  nor  the  moon  by  night.  The  Lord  shall 
preserve  thee  from  all  evil :  he  shall  preserve  thy 
soul. 

3.  It  is  a  supplying  presence.  As  nothing 
truly  and  really  evil  can  lie  upon,  so  nothing 
truly  and  really  good  can  be  wanting  to,  that 
house  and  family  where  God  is.  When  the 
Fountain  of  good  comes,  the  streams  come  with 
him  ;  so  that  whatever  a  child  of  God  wants  at 
any  time,  he  may  be  assured  it  is  not  good  for 
him,  and  then  better  to  be  without  it.  '  Behold,  I 
stand  at  the  door,  and  knock  :  if  any  man  hear 
my  voice,  and  open  the  door,  I  will  come  in  to 
him,  and  will  sup  with  him,  and  he  with  me.' 
God  is  a  guest  that  brings  not  only  his  own  en- 
tertainment, but  entertainment  for  those  that  let  him 
in,  along  with  him.  When  God  comes  to  a  house- 
warming  (pardon  the  country  expression)  he 
brings  a  royal  present  with  him :  like  that  of 
Ilazael's  to  Elisha  — 2  Kings  viii.  9. — '  a  present 
of  every  good  thing.'  '  My  God  shall  supply  all 
your  need  according  to  his  riches  in  glory  by  Christ 
Jesus.  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd  ;  I  shall  not  want.' 
4.  It  is  a  supporting  presence.  Whilst  we  are 
in  this  world  we  have  not  only  our  wants,  but 
our   burdens  ;  pains,  sicknesses,  losses,   crosses, 


APPENDIX.       NO.    II.  346 

and  disappointments.  These  are  burdens,  family 
burdens,  which  we  are  often  groaning  under. 
Now  where  God  is  in  a  family,  he  will  either  take 
off  these  burdens,  or  which  comes  all  to  one,  he 
will  sustain  under  them.  He  will  cither  lighten 
the  load,  or  strengthen  the  shoulder.  '  The 
eternal  God  is  thy  refuge,  and  underneath  are  the 
everlasting  arms.'  Deut.  xxxiii.  27.  '  Though  I 
walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I 
will  fear  no  evil :  for  thou  art  with  me,  thy  rod 
and  thy  stalf  they  comfort  me.' — Psalm  xxiii.  4. 
David  comforted  himself  with  this  when  he  should 
be  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  that  is, 
in  very  great  trouble,  that  God  would  be  with 
him  as  a  shepherd,  and  there  would  be  his  rod 
and  his  staff. 

Shepherds  use  a  staff  to  bear  up  the  weary 
sheep ;  nay,  God,  the  great,  the  good  shepherd, 
carries  his  lambs  in  his  arms — Isa.  xl,  11. 
Where  God  is,  he  will  not  be  wanting  in  inward, 
spiritual  supports,  under  outward,  temporal  bur- 
dens of  what  kind  soever. 

5.  His  presence  makes  all  sweet.  It  sweetens 
all  family  crosses.  These  are  things  which  we 
must  count  upon,  and  look  for  here,  in  this  world. 
But  the  presence  of  God  takes  out  the  sting — the 
bitterness  of  every  affliction,  'Tis  this  that  puts 
honey  on  every  rod,  'Tis  this  that  is  the  alone 
comfort  of  a  child  of  God  at  all  times,  and  in  all 


346  APPENDIX.       NO.    II. 

conditions.  See  that  promise,  Isa.  xliii.  2. — 
»  When  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be 
with  thee;  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not 
overflow  thee  ;  when  thou  walkest  through  the 
fire,  thou  shalt  not  be  burned  ;  neither  shall  the 
flame  kindle  upon  thee. 

It  sweetens  all  family  comforts.  'Tis  the  pre- 
sence of  God  that  is  the  sugar  of  all  our  enjoy- 
ments. What  are  relations  and  friends  without 
God  ?  A  spread  table,  a  full  cup,  a  warm  house,  a 
soft  bed,  without  God  ?  Mercies  are  then  sweet 
when  we  can  see  them  come,  not  from  a  hand  of 
common  providence,  but  from  a  hand  of  special 
love.  'Tis  the  covenant,  or  rather,  God  in  the 
covenant,  that  puts  milk  into  the  breasts,  wine 
into  the  bottles  of  all  creature  comforts.  All 
creatures  are  that  to  us  that  God  makes  them. 

6.  His  presence  makes  all  successful.  When 
God  was  with  Joseph,  though  in  the  narrow 
sphere  of  a  prison,  all  that  he  did  was  made  to 
prosper — Gen.  xxxix.  23.  The  presence  of  God 
in  a  house  makes  all  the  affairs  to  prosper,  the 
corn  to  prosper,  and  the  cattle  to  prosper ;  and  all 
to  prosper  as  far  as  will  be  for  good.  It  is  pro- 
mised (Psalm  i.  3.)  as  part  of  the  blessing.  Job 
xxii.  28.  Psalm  x-xxvii.  4,  5.  Duet,  xxviii.  3, 
&c.  '  He  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the 
rivers  of  water,  that  bringeth  forth  his  fruit  in  his 
season;  his  leaf  also  shall  not  wither;  and  what- 


APPENDIX.       NO.    II. 


347 


soever  he  doeth  shall  prosper.  Thou  shalt  also 
decree  a  thing,  and  it  shall  be  established  unto 
thee ;  and  the  light  shall  shine  upon  thy  ways. 
Delight  thyself  also  in  the  Lord,  and  he  shall 
give  thee  the  desires  of  thine  heart.  Commit  thy 
way  unto  the  Lord,  trust  also  in  him,  and  he 
shall  bring  it  to  pass.  Blessed  shalt  thou  be  in 
the  city,  and  blessed  shalt  thou  be  in  the  field.' 

If  Laban's  family  prospered  while  Jacob  was 
there,  much  more  will  that  family  prosper  where 
the  God  of  .Tacob  is. 

The  psalmist  gives  us,  in  Psalm  cxliv.  12 — 14, 
a  picture  of  outward  prosperity,  and  his  heart 
was  beginning  to  bless  the  covetous,  and  to  say, 
'  Happy  is  the  people  that  is  in  such  a  case.'  But 
he  soon  corrects  himself,  '  Happy  is  the  people 
whose  God  is  the  Lord,'  for  they  have  all  this, 
either  in  kind,  or  kindness. 

And  now  tell  me,  if  the  presence  of  God  be  not 
very  desirable  in  a  house. 

in.  I  AM  TO  DIRECT  YOU  WHAT  TO  DO,  THAT 
YOU  MAY  HAVE  THIS  PRESENCE  OF  GOD  IN  YOUR 
HOUSES. 

I  hope  you  are  convinced  it  is  desirable,  and 
are  truly  willing  to  do  any  thing  that  you  may 
have  it.     Then, 

1st.  If  you  would  have  God  come  to  you, 
vou  must  invite  him  to  come.  Send  a  special 
messenger  to  the  throne  of  grace  humbly  to  de- 


348  APPENDIX.       NO.    II. 

sire  the  divine  presence.  Breathe  out  those 
words  of  David,  '  O  when  wilt  thou  come  unto 
me?'  God  will  not  come  uninvited.  You  will 
scarce  come  to  a  friend's  house  that  does  not  de- 
sire your  company. 

In  the  Gospels  we  find  Christ  once  at  a  wed- 
ding, but  then  he  was  called.  John  ii.  2.  If  the 
divine  presence  be  not  worth  the  asking,  it  is  not 
worth  the  having,  and  then  it  is  worth  nothing. 

Make  an  errand,  then,  to  God,  to  intreat  him 
that  he  would  be  pleased  to  come  under  your 
roof.  Go  to  him,  and  tell  him  you  have  a  house 
at  his  service,  and  that  you  shall  think  it  an 
uncomfortable  house  if  he  does  not  come  and 
dwell  with  you  in  it.  Tell  him  he  shall  be  heartily 
welcome  to  the  best  you  have,  and  you  are  sorry 
you  have  no  better.  Be  earnest  with  him.  Re- 
solve to  have  no  nay. — See  Exod,  xxxiii.  14,  15. 
When  Solomon  had  built  a  house,  he  made  a 
solemn  business  of  inviting  God  to  it  (2  Chron. 
vi.  41.).  and  he  had  a  gracious  answer  (chap, 
vii.  12.).  This  is  called  dedicating  a  house 
(Psalm  XXX.)  the  title — (Deut.  xx.  5.) — passing 
over  the  right  of  it  to  God,  and  to  his  service  ; 
and,  where  that  is  done  in  sincerity,  God  will  be 
sure  to  take  possession.  Open  the  gates  to  let 
liim  in  (Psalm  xxiv.) ;  and  say,  as  Laban  to 
Abraham's  servant,  (Gen.  xxiv.  31.)     'Come  in.' 

2dly,  If  you  would  have  God  come  and  dwell 


APPENDIX.       NO.    II.  349 

in  your  houses,  you  must  bid  him  welcome  into 
your  hearts,  for  it  is  the  heart  that  God  loolis  for 
— the  heart  that  God  calls  for.  If  you  had  a 
thousand  houses,  and  should  give  them  all  to 
God,  and  bid  him  welcome  into  them  all,  if  you 
should  not  give  him  your  hearts,  you  would  give 
him  nothing.  Where  God  shall  not  be  a  heart- 
guest,  he  will  not  be  a  house-guest.  Plainly, 
thus.  If  you  would  have  God  to  come  to  you, 
you  must  get  him  to  be  your  friend,  and  then  he 
will  be  sure  to  come ;  and  how  must  that  be  done 
but  by  making  Christ  yours  by  a  true  and  lively 
faith  ;  closing  with  him,  accepting  of  him,  making 
him  your  friend,  and  then  God  in  him  will  be 
your  friend  too.  Is  this  work  done,  or  is  it  not  ? 
If  not,  do  it,  and  do  it  quickly,  as  you  tender  the 
welfare  of  your  families ;  for  till  this  be  done  in 
sincerity,  God  will  never  come  near  you  nor 
your  house  either. 

Christ  is  said  to  '  dwell  in  the  heart  by 
faith.'  Eph.  iii.  17.  Now  when  Christ  dwells 
in  the  heart,  then,  and  not  till  then,  God  will 
dwell  in  the  house.  Now  what  say  you  to  this? 
If  you  would  have  God  come  to  you,  you  must 
come  to  him.  Behold,  he  calls  you — do  you 
come  at  his  call,  and  then  he  will  come  at  yours. 
Admit  Christ  into  your  hearts ;  put  the  key 
into  his  hands ;  let  him  have  possession  of  every 
30 


350 


APPENDIX.       NO.    II. 


corner  of  it:  for  assure  yourselves,  you  cannot 
have  a  better  guest. 

3dly.  If  you  would  have  God  come  to  your 
houses,  you  must  keep  them  clean  swept  from  all 
sinful  pollutions:  for  what  fellowship  hath  light 
with  darkness,  Christ  with  Belial,  or  God  with 
sin  ?  Sin  is  the  only  thing  that  God  hates  ;  and, 
therefore,  he  will  have  nothing  to  do  with  those 
hearts,  with  those  houses,  in  which  that  is 
uppermost.  Will  you  lodge  the  traitor,  the  rebel, 
in  the  best  chamber,  and  then  invite  the  Prince 
to  your  house  ?  See  Job  xxii.  23.  '  Thou  shalt 
put  away  all  iniquity  far  from  thy  tabernacle.' 
As  you  must  not  be  wicked  yourselves,  so  you 
must  see  that  none  of  yours  be  wicked.  You 
must  use  your  authority  with  children  and  ser- 
vants to  keep  them  from  sin. — Remember  Eli : 
how  dear  the  indulgence  of  his  sons  cost  him  ; 
there  is  a  terrible  Scripture,  (Prov.  iii.  33.) — "  the 
curse  of  the  Lord  is  in  the  house  of  the  wicked." — 
Those  that  are  housekeepers,  if  they  be  sin  keep- 
ers, the  curse  of  the  eternal  God  (hear  this  and 
tremble)  will  rest  upon  them,  and  their  house. 
Will  God  dwell  there,  where  drunkenness  and 
uncleanness  are ;  where  cursing  and  swearing, 
where  lying  and  sabbath-breaking  arc  ?  You 
know  he  will  not,  therefore  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness,  but  rather 
reprove  them,  especially  in  those  that  are  under 


APPENDIX.       NO.    II.  351 

your  charge,  for  to  them  you  are  reprovers  by 
odice.  What  hath  God  given  you  your  author- 
ity for,  but  that  you  may  use  it  against  sin  ? 
Take  pattern  by  holy  Jacob  (Gen.  xxxv.  2.)  He 
said  unto  his  household,  '  Put  away  the  strange 
gods  that  are  among  you  ;'  and  holy  David  in 
this  psalm,  (verses  3,  4,  5,  7.)  which  is  called  the 
householder's  psalm — '  I  will  set  no  wicked  thing 
before  mine  eyes  :  I  hate  the  work  of  them  that 
turn  aside  :  it  shall  not  cleave  to  me.  A  froward 
heart  shall  depart  from  me  ;  I  will  not  know  a 
wicked  person.  Whoso  privily  slandereth  his 
neighbour,  him  will  I  cut  off;  him  that  hath  an 
high  look,  and  a  proud  heart,  will  not  I  suffer. 
He  that  workcth  deceit  shall  not  dwell  within  my 
house  :  he  that  telleth  lies  shall  not  tarry  in  my 
sight. 

4thly.  If  you  would  have  God  to  dwell  in  your 
houses  you  must  furnish  them,  and  make  them 
ready  for  his  entertainment.  The  Shunammite 
woman,  when  she  would  have  the  prophet  lodge 
under  her  roof,  provided  prophet's  furniture  for 
him,  a  bed,  a  table,  a  stool,  and  a  candlestick ; 
and  then  he  turned  in  thither. 

Now  there  are  two  things  which  you  must  set 
up,  and  keep  up,  in  your  house  for  God,  if  you 
would  have  him  come  and  dwell  with  you  ;  these 
are,  a  Throne  and  an  Altar. 

1st.  You  must  set  up  a  throne  for  him.     You, 


352 


APPENDIX. 


and  your  house,  must  be  truly  willing  to  be 
governed  by  hun  in  every  thing.  For  God  will 
not  dwell  where  he  shall  not  rule.  He  will  not 
be  a  guest,  where  he  shall  not  be  a  king.  Where 
he  shall  not  be  all  in  all,  he  will  be  nothing  at  all. 
Let  not  those  expect  his  blessing,  that  will  not 
bear  his  yoke.  God  will  have  the  uppermost 
place  in  the  heart,  and  in  the  house  too,  or  else 
he  will  have  none  ;  for  God  will  come  no  where 
to  be  an  underling.  Now  what  say  you  to  this  ? 
Are  you  willing  to  have  him  upon  these  terms? 
Will  you  promise  that,  by  the  grace  of  God,  sin 
shall  not  rule  you,  the  world  shall  not  rule  you  ? 
For  ♦  no  servant  can  serve  two  masters.  Ye 
cannot  serve  God  and  mammon.'  Luke  xvi.  13. 
God  will  not  come  to  that  house  where  the  love 
of  the  world  reigns.  I  dare  say  he  will  not,  for 
♦  the  friends  of  the  world  are  the  enemies  of  God,' 
James  iv.  4.  and  God's  enemies  will  not  have 
him  to  reign  over  them,  Luke  xix.  ;  and  then,  he 
will  never  come  near  them  unless  to  their  ruin. 

2d.  You  must  set  up  an  altar  for  him,  and 
it  must  be  a  smoking  altar.  I  mean  this  :  if  you 
would  have  God  to  dwell  with  you,  you  must  set 
up,  and  keep  up,  the  daily  worship  of  God  in  your 
families.  He  expects  and  requires  a  lamb  in  the 
morning,  and  a  lamb  in  the  evening.  You  know 
what  was  Joshua's  resolution  ;  '  As  for  me  and 
my  house,  we  will  serve  the  Lord.'     Let  it  be 


APPENDIX.       NO.    II.  353 

yours.  Pray  with  your  families.  Read  the 
Scriptures  to  them,  and  sing  Psahns.  These  are 
the  three  great  family  duties ;  and  see  that  none 
of  them  be  neglected.  Which  of  them  is  not  very 
profitable,  and  very  comfortable  ?  Take  some 
time  also  to  catechize  your  children  and  servants. 
Teach  them  the  good  knowledge  of  the  Lord. 
God  has  committed  them  to  your  charge,  and 
expects  from  you  an  account  of  them. 

Remember  also  to  make  a  business,  and  to 
make  a  conscience,  of  family  worship.  Be  dili- 
gent and  serious  in  it.  Consider  what  a  God 
you  have  to  deal  with,  and  carry  it  accordingly 
in  all  your  performances.  Be  careful  to  time 
duty  aright.  'Tis  usually  the  earlier  the  better, 
both  morning  and  evening.  Let  not  worldly 
affairs  crowd  family  worship  into  a  corner,  or 
lead  you  to  omit  any  part  of  it,  or  to  huddle  it 
over  slightly. 

Especially  be  careful  to  sanctify  the  Sabbath  in 
your  houses  as  well  as  in  church.  The  fourth 
commandment  seems  to  be  directed,  especially  to 
masters  of  families.  '  The  seventh  day  is  the 
sabbath  of  the  Lord  thy  God ;  in  it  thou  shalt  not 
do  any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter, 
thy  man-servant,  nor  thy  maid-servant,  nor  thy 
cattle,  nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates.' 
If  thou  be  careful  and  conscientious  in  this  mat- 
30* 


354 


APPENDIX. 


ter,  go  on  and  prosper  ;  and  be  assured  that  the 
Lord  is  with  you. 

5thly.  If  you  would  have  G'  d  to  dwell  in  your 
families,  you  must  be  very  careful  in  the  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  of  your  family  relations  ;  as 
superiors,  inferiors,  and  equals,  always  remem- 
bering, that  we  are  really  what  we  are  relatively. 
Study  the  law  of  the  fifth  commandment,  and  be 
obedient  to  it.  There  is  great  duty  in  the  conju- 
gal relation.  The  husband's  duty,  is,  to  '  love  his 
wife  even  as  himself,'  The  wife's  duty  is,  to  be 
obedient  to  her  husband  in  the  Lord.  The  duty 
of  both  is,  to  do  all  they  can  to  help  one  another 
to  heaven  ;  to  pray  together,  and  be  concerned 
for  the  welfare  of  one  another's  souls.  Parents' 
duty  is,  to  '  bring  up  their  children  in  the  nurture 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord.'  Masters'  duty  is, 
to  give  their  servants  that  which  is  just  and 
equal.  Children  are  to  obey  their  parents,  and 
servants  their  masters,  in  the  Lord,  These 
duties  are  often  mentioned  in  the  Epistles,  to  shew 
what  stress  God  lays  upon  them.  The  great 
family  duty  is  mutual  love  and  unity.  See 
Psalm  cxxxiii. 

To  conclude.  Now  you  see  what  you  must  do 
that  you  may  have  the  presence  of  God  with  you 
in  your  houses.  And,  I  think,  in  shewing  you 
what  kind  of  presence  that  is,  I  have  said  enough 
to  persuade  you  to  it.     Now  will  you  be  persuad- 


APPENDIX.      NO.    in.  355 

ed?     If  not,  take    what   follows — the   curse   of 
God. 

If  you  will,  be  assured  that  God  will  certainly 
come  to  you,  and  take  up  his  abode  with  you,  be 
your  house  never  so  mean  in  this  world  ;  and  you 
shall  shortly  go  to  him  and  take  up  your  abode 
Mith  him  in  a  better  world.  W^ith  which  words 
comfort  yourselves  and  one  another. 


No.  III. 


Account  of  tlic  Death  of  the  Rev.  Matthew  Henry, 
from  Mrs.  Savage's  Diary. 

1714.  Tuesday,  June  22.  This  day  brings  an 
affliction.  We  went,  yesterday  morning,  to 
Nantwich,  to  meet  dear  brother  Henry  in  his  re- 
turn from  Chester.  When  we  came  to  Nantwich 
he  had  met  with  a  fall,  but  no  seeming  hurt ;  said 
he  was  well,  and  hastened  to  chapel,  which  was 
filled  with  hearers,  where  he  preached  on  Jeremi- 
ah xxxi.  18.  'I  have  surely  heard  Ephraim  be- 
moaning himself  thus  ;  Thou  hast  chastised  me 
and  I  was  chastised,  as  a  bullock  unaccustomed 
to  the  yoke ;  turn  thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned ; 
for  thou  art  the  Lord  my  God.'  (His  farewell 
sermo^n  as  it  proved.)     He  did  not  preach  with 


356  APPENDIX.       NO.    III. 

thai  vigour  he  used  to  have ;  was  something 
short,  and  afterwards,  exceedingly  heavy  and 
sleepy.  He  was  bled  but  towards  morning  grew 
convulsed,  and,  about  seven  or  eight  o'clock,  the 
immortal  spirit  took  flight  to  the  land  of  everlast- 
ting  peace  and  rest,  with  very  little  extremity. 
He  could  spend  and  be  spent,  and  now  he  has 
scaled  it  with  his  blood.  Lord,  what  is  man? 
If  a  hair  falls  not,  sure  a  head,  such  a  head, 
cannot  fall  without  particular  direction  or  disposal 
of  our  heavenly  Father. — What  is  this  that  God 
has  done  unto  us  ? — Well  may  it  be  said,  '  We 
ai*e  this  day  weak,  our  hands  are  feeble.' 

Wednesday,  June  23d. — I  went  to  the  place  to 
take  leave  of  the  dear  earthen  vessel,  in  which 
was  lodged  such  a  treasure,  and  shall  always  re- 
member there  was  nothing  of  death  to  be  seen  in 
his  face,  but  rather  something  of  a  smile.  How 
is  the  gold  become  dim,  and  the  fine  gold  changed  ! 
— That  head,  that  hand  so  fitted  for  service,  now 
cold  and  moveless.  Lord,  what  is  man,  the 
greatest,  the  best  ?  When  God  bids  Moses  go  up 
and  die  on  Mount  Nebo,  it  is  observable,  he  adds 
— '  As  Aaron  thy  brother  was  gathered  to  his 
people.'  Sure  this  should  mind  me  of  my  own 
dissolution,  as  sprung  from  the  same  good  olive, 
and  spending  our  childhood  together,  in  much 
comfort  and  pleasure,  under  that  dear  and  benign 
shadow.     I  have  reason  to  think  he  loved  me  the 


APPENDIX.       NO.    III.  357 

best  of  all  his  sisters,  and  it  is  with  satisfaction  I 
tliink  of  the  love  I  had  for  him,  and  the  great 
unity  that  was  amongst  us  then,  so  that  I  do  not 
remember  one  angry  or  unkind  word  betwixt  us. 
O  how  happy  a  thing  it  is  thus  to  dwell  and  not 
have  the  sting  of  any  unkindness  in  the  reflection. 
Though  I  well  remember  that  I  have  thought  my 
dear  mother  had  most  tenderness  and  love  for  my 
brother,  yet  I  was  so  far  from  envying  for  his 
sake,  that  I  complied  with  her,  and  loved  him 
with  a  pure  heart  fervently.  I  remember  the 
many  cares  and  fears  I  had  for  him  when  he  was 
ill  of  a  fever  at  London,  at  Mr.  Doolittle's,  and 
the  strong  cries  and  tears  I  offered  in  secret  to  my 
heavenly  Father,  accompanied  with  a  purpose  of 
a  particular  act  of  religion  that  I  would  be  found 
in,  if  God  should  hear  prayer  for  him,  and  spare 
him  to  us,  greatly  dreading  how  my  dear  parents 
could  bear  the  stroke,  when  I  saw  them  so  afflict- 
ed for  the  death  of  Mr.  Hosier,  his  companion  and 
friend.  God  was  graciously  pleased  then  to 
hearken  to  our  petitions,  and  give  him  to  us 
again  ;  but,  afler  a  time,  my  good  purposes  (to 
my  shame)  proved  abortive. 

Friday,  June  25th.  We  gathered  up  the 
mantle  of  this  dear  Elijah  ;  took  the  dear  remains 
to  Chester,  lodged  them  in  the  silent  tomb — '  the 
house  appointed  for  all  living.'  We  laid  him  in 
Trinity  church  (by  his  dear  first  wife,)  accom" 


858  APPENDIX.       NO.    III. 

panicd  with  a  vast  crowd,  desiring  to  pay  their 
tribute  to  his  blessed  memory,  for  so  that  of  the 
just  man  is.  Before  we  came  from  Nantwich, 
good  Mr.  Reynolds,  preached  in  our  chapel,  from 
that  text — '  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant.' 
He  shewed  that  our  Lord  Jesus  will  certainly 
come  again,  and  reward  all  his  true  and  faithful 
servants,  and  those  whom  he  blesseth,  are  bless- 
ed indeed.  One  inference  I  remember  (among 
many  good  ones)  was,  if  our  Lord  does  own  and 
commend  them,  he  will  not  be  displeased  with  us 
for  commending  them,  which,  indeed,  is  comfor- 
table, for  this  Demetrius  had  a  good  report  of  all 
men,  and  we  cannot  but  bear  record.  May  I  not 
be  slothful,  but  a  follower  of  him  in  faith  and 
holiness,  that  I  may  share  with  him  in  that 
blessed  rest.  We  have  no  reason  to  weep  for 
him,  but  for  ourselves.  Our  sins  have  provoked 
God  to  put  out  this  burning  and  shining  light. 
As  to  the  manner  of  his  death  (being  on  a  journey 
and  amongst  strangers)  I  doubt  not  God  had  wise 
and  holy  ends  in  so  ordering  it.  Sad,  sad,  sad 
tidings  to  his  poor  family. 

Sabbath,  June  27th.  Mr.  Mottershead  preach- 
ed for  dear  brother — '  My  father,  my  father,  the 
chariots  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof.' 
God  will  own  his  faithfid  servants  living  and 
dying;  the  angels  are  fellow-servants  with  the 
saints,  and  will  attend  them,  and  guard  the  pre- 


APPENDIX.       NO.    HI.  359 

cious  soul  to  the  pvepared  mansions.  Many  of 
our  crood  friends  mourn  with  us.  I  desire  to  sit 
alone  and  keep  silence.  God's  will  be  done,  and 
he  docs  all  well  and  wisely. 

I  must  not  here  omit  what  he  himself  spoke  of 
to  Mr.  lUidge,  last  May,  in  London,  with  much 
affection,  and  said,  it  should  be  his  particular  say- 
ing or  motto,  "  Tliat  a  holy,  heavenly  life,  spent 
in  the  service  of  Cod,  and  communion  with  him, 
is  the  most  pleasant  and  comfortable  life  any  one 
can  live  in  this  world." 

Dear  brother's  sudden  removal  has  deprived  us 
of  many  excellent  things  that  would  no  doubt  have 
dropped  from  him  ;  he  only  said  once  or  twice, 
"  I  bless  God  I  have  inward  supports."  Another 
time  he  said,  "  Sin  is  bitter ;"  but  his  head  was 
so  soon  seized,  that  it  could  not  be  expected,  nor 
did  he  say  one  word  of  his  dear  wife  and 
children. 

What  shall  we  say  to  these  things  ?  '  The 
gold  is  become  dim,  and  the  fine  gold  changed.' 
I  would  be  quickened  to  be  doing  my  great  work, 
because  I  know  not  but  my  great  Master  may 
come  suddenly.  O  Lord,  cause  me  to  live  as  I 
would  die.  Methinks  my  heart  is  so  full  of  this 
subject  of  dear  brother,  that  I  can  scarce  turn  my 
thoughts  or  pen  to  any  other.  I  trust  the  re- 
moval   of  such    excellent    ones  will    help    more 


360  APPENDIX.       NO.    III. 

to  familiarize  death  to  mc,  and  endear  the  heaven- 
ly glory. 

The  Sabbath  after  good  Mr.  Gardner,  at  Ches- 
ter, had  the  same  text  with  our  Mr.  Mottershead. 
Afterwards  Mr.  Worthington,  his  assistant,  from 
those  words  of  our  dying  Lord — <  Weep  not  for 
me,  but  for  yourselves,  and  your  children.'  So  I 
do,  and  shall.  I  am,  sometimes,  ready  to  say,  I 
shall  go  to  the  grave  mourning  for  him,  especially 
for  the  sake  of  the  young  ones — the  rising  gene- 
ration. 


THE    END. 


